Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Muhammad Ikmal Opat Abdullah is the founder, group executive chairman and group leader of Widad Business Group (WBG), a corporate holding which provides job vacancies to more than 1500 employees throughout Malaysia.
With his entrepreneurism, Ikmal Opat played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Widad Group which now includes institution of higher learning ie Widad University College and Widad College. The other key business segments are integrated facility management, construction, property development, hotels, publication and media, aquaculture as well as engineering consultancy.
Hailing from Kedah, Ikmal Opat graduated from The National University of Malaysia with a Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communication).As the Founder & Group Executive Chairman of WBG, Ikmal Opat successfully spearheaded the company to new levels of growth and development.
Under his stewardship, WBG has won numerous recognitions including being awarded as the Best Facility Management Award 2014 (Building Category) in the national level and Grade (A) High Level Achievement Contractor (KBBT) by Ministry of Works in December 2015.
The company was also conferred with the usage of the word Royal by His Majesty the XIV King of Malaysia to all WBG’s business entities especially Royal Widad Hotel, Royal Widad Specialist Center, Royal Widad Tourism Center and Yayasan Royal Widad.
Apart from that, Ikmal Opat has been actively involved in the country social and welfare activity. In this aspect, he directly and indirectly involves in various activities with several NGOs and voluntary such as Yayasan Kemiskinan Kedah (YAKED), Yayasan Anak-Anak Yatim Sultanah Haminah (YAYSH), Yayasan Sultan Kelantan Darul Naim, and a few others.
His passion in helping those in need has translated into a social enterprise TV program called ‘Kembara Widad’ which aired on RTM TV1. In this program, the qualified zakat recipients will be given assistance in the form of business advice and equipment to support their business ventures.Ikmal Opat Abdullah who was once an army in Malaysia Armed Forces, had proven that his excellent achievement is not only centred around commercial element but rather a greater emphasis are also given to support the government aspiration in producing as many excellent Bumiputera entrepreneurs as possible. His perseverance towards staff upskilling and lifelong learning contributes to a greater SUCCESS of the Group.
Datuk Cham serves as a director and Group Deputy CEO of Widad Business Group. He is responsible for the business development of the group and maintaining liaison and fostering close relationship with the government and government agencies.
He graduate from University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) with the Bachelor of Mass Communication (Hons).
He held various positions spanning over 15 years with the group. He played a pivotal role in over-seeing the Group business particularly the aquaculture project in Langkawi.
Datuk Cham also plays an instrumental role in developing Majalah Pendidik, a monthly education magazine for Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM).
In 2013, he was honoured with the Bintang Kebaktian Masyarakat (BKM) Kedah by His Royal Highness, The Sultan of Kedah and subsequently in 2016, he received the Bintang Ahli Kelantan (AK) by his Royal Highness, The Sultan of Kelantan.
In February 2016, he was conferred the Darjah Panglima Mahkota Wilayah (PMW) which carries the tittle Datuk by His Majesty the XIV King of Malaysia, Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah at Istana Negara Kuala Lumpur.