THE once popular American sitcom “Three’s Company” comes to mind if once were to scrutinise the latest executive appointments at ACE Market-listed Straits Energy Resources Bhd (previously Straits Inter Logistics Bhd).
On a more serious note, the oil bunkering player announced the appointment of Sunny Ho Khin Choy to lead its indirect subsidiary Straits CommNet Solutions Sdn Bhd.
Sunny who has led various key sections in Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), Axiata’s Edotco, Nokia Malaysia and Ascom, among others, will spearhead Straits Energy’s push into the 5G-driven digital space and Internet of Things (IoT transformation of the regional oil and gas (O&G) industry.
His appointment as the CEO of Straits CommNet effective Feb 3 comes less than three months after Straits Energy entered into a maiden collaboration with Texas-based Baicells Technologies Co Ltd which is a provider of innovative 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G New Radio (NR) access solutions.
Sunny’s last posting prior to joining Straits CommNet was at DNB which is the government-owned entity mandated to deploy 5G network and infrastructure across the country. He was responsible for product planning and execution as well as ensuring that the products support all DNB’s business strategy and goals.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in telecommunication and computer engineering from the University of Louisiana, US.
As Straits Energy said it has also appointed John Ho Soon Choy as chief operating officer of Straits CommNet effective Jan 3, it will be interesting to watch how both siblings can click to steer the group’s 5G/digital transformation to greater heights.
Like Sunny, John’s alma mater is also the University of Louisiana where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science.
With over 32 years of experience in the IT industry, John has in the past led a MIS/IT team that provided support on SAP and IT infrastructure for F&N and Yeo’s Malaysia and Indonesia. He is a specialist in IT restructuring by improving system processes and achieving cost optimisation.
Elder brother and Straits Energy’s managing director Datuk Seri Ron Ho Kam Choy expressed hope that the entry of both Sunny and John who are already Straits CommNet’ directors into the management team “will immediately put us on an accelerated path towards establishing our footprint in the 5G and the O&G IoT market”.
“With many processes and functionalities remain traditionally or minimally-digitalised, Straits Energy wants to be a disruptor by incorporating 4G and 5G enabled technologies such as IoT into the daily processes within the industry,” envisages Ron. “The ultimate goal is to raise productivity and to make the processes more efficient.”
Following its collaboration with Baicells Technologies, Ron said Straits Energy will be in a better position to roll out its services.
“Under Sunny’s leadership, I am optimistic that we would be able to tap into the right opportunities and grow this new segment into an important revenue generator for the group,” he added.
With yesterday’s (Feb 3) acquisition of 550,000 shares, Ron now holds 11.66% direct stake and 7.52% indirect stake in Straits Energy which should effectively make him a controlling shareholder of the company.
Hopefully, the ‘tripartite brotherly connection’ in Straits Energy will spur its business to a ‘tiger-efic’ height in 2022 and beyond.
At 9.33am, Straits Energy was up 0.5 sen or 3.03% to 17 sen with 5.71 million shares traded, thus valuing the company at RM133 mil. – Feb 4, 2022
