MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016
Koh Pak Boo – Building bridges and opening doors
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efore being elected as President of MACEOS 20002002, Koh Pak Boo had been organising agricultural shows on behalf of University Malaya Agriculture Graduate Alumni (UMAGA). Koh, born in Kuala Lumpur, spent most of his formative years in Chinese vernacular school supplemented with English classes. His hard work and dedication to his books paid off when he gained admission to the University of Malaya. In 1969, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science. “After I joined the alumni, they are quite active in producing written materials on agriculture as well as organising industry related shows domestically. That was how I got my early experience in organising exhibitions.” Upon graduation, Koh was an assistant research officer in Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) for three years, which was a “natural progression” for him. He then moved to the private agricultural sector until 1982, that was when he started his own company. When he took the MACEOS reins in 2000, he was the Managing Director of Trans-Event Sdn Bhd. Koh said, “there were a few people who wanted to relinquish their positions in MACEOS, and some among the committee were elected to fill those seats.” In those early days, MACEOS didn’t have as many members as it does now. And he saw that a working relationship with the government, during that period, was almost non-existent. “I would say that establishing a close liaison with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry was my chief concern. Back then, the development of the exhibition industry was under a board within the Tourism Ministry.
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