KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 21): Public Bank Bhd founder and chairman Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow bagged the latest The Best of Best In Brand Leadership Award 2018 — Overall Championship award from the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation.

In a statement today, Public Bank said this latest personal-to-holder award is in acknowledgement of Teh's leadership, one that not only brought success to Public Bank but also inspires and motivates many with his vision and wisdom.

"Being the founder and chairman is a coveted position which is more than simply 'calling the shots'. It means earning respect and inspiring the entire organisation to pursue excellence for the good of the company," said Teh.

"Excellence requires discomfort. It cannot be an exception but has to be a prevailing attitude. To arrive at excellence, everyone must adopt the dream as a blueprint and consistently prescribe to a set of shared values.

"In Public Bank, traditional values still hold true. When one is a custodian of public funds and is entrusted with the commodity called money, there is no substitute for integrity, trust and good governance. That is why I always subscribe to the principle that we 'Do the right thing' even when nobody is looking," Teh added.

"As the key driving force of Public Bank, Teh has steered the bank to become the largest private bank in Malaysia for the past 50 years with his leadership; a leadership that is well grounded on the foundation of strong vision, diligence, innovation, integrity, responsibility and concern," said The BrandLaureate President Dr KK Johan.

"In Corporate Malaysia, Teh's leadership is hard to match and it has become the benchmark of excellence for the industry and for leaders," he said.

Meanwhile, Public Bank also bagged The BrandLaureate CSR BrandLeadership Awards 2018 — Leadership in CSR award on the same night.

With these latest awards, the bank has received more than 580 corporate awards of excellence and distinction, and Teh has amassed 42 personal-to-holder awards of lifetime excellence and achievements and exemplary leadership.

At 10.42am, shares of Public Bank were four sen or 0.16% lower at RM24.62, valuing it at RM95.73 billion.