T

here are so many ways to maintain success. One of them which not many business people remember or care about is enhancing one’s sensitivity toward employee problems. And that is precisely what is done by Musa Rajekshah, president director of PT Anugerah Langkat Makmur, which has oil palm plantations in North Sumatra.

He admits that it is not an ordinary job leading such a major national company, so he employs a unique approach toward the business and the employees. “We have to be more sensitive and care about those who are in trouble. In terms of religion we believe that good deeds are always rewarded,” said Ijeck as he is often called by close friends.

Ijeck inherited this guiding principle from his father, H. Anif, who established the company that has its headquarters in Medan in 1982. His father’s wisdom helped him succeed in developing the company further. “I fully agree with what my father had advised me meaning we must take care of the environment and the people around us so that we are not selfish and this way they will also automatically take care of us,” said Ijeck, who was born in Medan on April 1, 1974.

Before joining the family business car racing was Ijeck’s world. “I started racing very early in life; my first race was when I was 12. I inherited this hobby from my father as well,” said Ijeck who is chairman of North Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Motor Car Association (IMI).

After graduating from high school in 1992 he immediately started his own business, a car service station. However the business did not run as well as expected and it was closed down in two years. Then he became a road contractor. But again this job did not last long. “Finally I decided to join the family business,” said Ijeck a graduate of social and politics faculty of Islam University of North Sumatra (UISU) and a master of law from North Sumatera University (USU).

Although currently continuing his father’s oil palm plantation and processing business, his first involvement with the family business was the cultivation of swallows’ nests in 1997. Here he learned to be sensitive to the people around him. “We empowered communities so we were not entirely business oriented. We gave back the profit to the communities in the form of schools, places of worship and making available religion teachers,” recalled Ijeck.

Due to the approach of Ijeck’s family, Ijeck was fully trusted to cultivate swallows’ nests in other villages as well, from one village to two and then to three villages in Muara Batang Gadis district, North
Sumatra.

The progress of business made it possible for the construction of pesantren and high schools and providing scholarships to the local students who could not afford higher education.

He was less involved in these projects in 2003 as his father requested him to take up a position in the oil palm factory, but he did not accept the offer easily.

It took him one year to study the business properly before he agreed to accept a strategic position in 2004. “At first I was not interested. I remember I was still fond of racing and once I left a meeting just like that to join a car race in Jakarta,” recalled Ijeck laughing.

Although initially he felt he was forced to manage the company, eventually his interest grew and his dreams of building his own business faded due to the busy schedule at the oil palm factory. “The first reason I like it is because I enjoy working outdoors in the field, secondly there is a lot of socialization with the people and communities around the company so there is less bureaucracy and the only skill required is good communication,” said the father of four.

However working in a family company is not easy. “Sustaining and maintaining it is a great responsibility. Starting a business from zero is different as we can observe its development, but one cannot guarantee the result. Now the question is how to continue and develop it further with full determination,” said Ijeck who loves riding his Harley Davidson.

Ijeck continues to uphold his father’s policies in running the company. One of them is a personal approach in a family atmosphere with his employees and the communities. “I believe in a life that is beneficial for others; not only for myself or for my family,” said Ijeck who is also Treasurer III of the Association of Indonesian Palm Oil Producers (GAPKI), for the North Sumatra chapter. His current dream is to further develop the family company into a larger company.