KOTA KINABALU: Some five decades ago come rain or shine, a teenager who just completed his Form Five would cycle around Sabah’s small town of Kota Belud, selling ice cream and snacks.

       A few years later, the son of a carpenter and tamu (weekly market) trader upgraded to a pick-up truck and with his elder brother, travelled from one village to another, honking as they went.

       The boy, Gui Khiau Leong (pic), now 66, would become the founder of Kota Belud’s largest chain of businesses. Gui Brothers Sdn Bhd has over the years also helped hundreds of locals find employment.

       The seventh of 15 siblings, who is now a millionaire, said prior to his successful venture in business, life was difficult.

       “We lived in poverty as there were so many of us. There wasn’t much money for the family and most of us could not even further our studies after Form Five,” he said.

       Since Gui was determined to change his life, he started saving bit by bit from his small-time business until he had enough to rent a sundry shop with his brother.

       As their savings grew and with loans obtained on the basis of trust, Gui Brothers Enterprise was born in 1985. Both Gui and his elder brother were in their early 30s.

       “When we started, we had to do everything on our own. I was still doing my usual truck sales around villages while my wife helped to open up the sundry shop at 7am,” he said.

       Gui said for years they worked 12-hour days with rarely any days off because by hook or by crook they had to pay the RM2,000 monthly rental.

       When business started to pick up in the early 90s, he and his brother decided to take another risk by buying their own shop and expanding their business which went from an enterprise to a private limited company.

       They hired locals, regardless of their education and social backgrounds, as long as they promised to be honest and hardworking.

       “I was once poor and had little knowledge of business when I started, which is why we do not care whether a person is educated or not or whether he did jail time because ultimately, we want those who really wish to change their lives to work,” he said.

       From there, they expanded their sundry shops and opened a supermarket and hardware shops all over Kota Belud town centre.

       Now, several of the Gui brothers and dozens of their children manage their businesses.

       “I don’t know if I have helped improve the economy in this small district but I know many of our former workers now have their own businesses while those who used to be unemployed now have jobs,” he said.

       Gui said throughout his journey he never gave up, even during tough times.

       “This is what I hope everyone out there will adopt – a fighting spirit.

       “I also wish to mention Lui Kim Chok, now a Datuk, who put his trust in a ‘nobody’ and gave me the help I needed to start my business over 30 years ago. Without him, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said, adding that trust is vital to start, sustain and grow a business.

       Asked if he plans to expand his businesses outside Kota Belud, Gui said that is a dream he hopes their children will realise one day.