Sia: Do things right, give back

DOING things the right way is the key principle for success and success is about giving, not about fame, businessman Simon Sia says.
Bintangor Trading managing-director Sia, pictured, made these comments when The National caught up with him for an interview last Friday in Port Moresby.
Sia, with an eight-member team, made it to the capital city by trekking through Menyamya in Morobe and Maburu in Gulf.
The Papua New Guinean naturalised citizen, who is originally from Malaysia but now based in Eastern Highlands, said success was not about building dynasties or empires, but helping the needy and providing avenues for others to excel.
“I don’t consider myself as a big or successful businessman,” Sia says.
“I consider doing things in the right way to give back in return to the community.
“I don’t want to be a billionaire.
“What I endeavour most is giving, gaining respect and being honest in every dealing that I make in life.
“That is what matters most to me.
“Eventually, one day, we all will go down with empty hand.
“The best thing to do while living is to enjoy life and bless others in any big or small ways.”
Sia is a household name in Eastern Highlands. He has been in the country since 1986 and holds two bachelor’s degrees: one in economics (1983) and another in commerce in accounting (1985) both from Canada University.
Sia is married with three children – all girls – two of whom are lawyers and one a dentist.
All are working overseas.
He started Bintangor Trading in 1992 after a six-year stint with Santa (PNG) Ltd.
Sia was granted Papua New Guinea citizenship on May 18, 2012.
Part of the reason why he is so popular in Eastern Highlands is because of Bintangor’s sponsorship, since 2007, of the Goroka Lahanis – the provincial rugby league team which participates in the semi-professional national competition, the Digicel Cup.
The Lahanis won last year and were back-to-back winners in 2010 and 2011.
According to Sia, who has pledged to support the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis continually in the years to come, there is no monetary gain from his support.
It is done only out of pride as he considers Eastern Highlands his home.
“When you look at the K65,000 as a first prize for the champions, the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis in the Digicel Cup, this indeed is less compared to what I have spent in the grand final on the team,” Sia says.
“So really, it is done out of pride for people of Eastern Highlands.”