Cover Story: Dato’ Sri Meer Sadik Habib on building a legacy where trust and tradition never go out of style

Long before it became a trusted household name, Habib began in 1958 as a modest shop founded by Habib Mohamed Abdul Latif with just RM3,800 in capital, on Penang’s Pitt Street, then known as “Jewellers Corner.”

Living just above it, a young Dato’ Sri Meer Sadik Habib spent his childhood in the century-old Jawi Peranakan shophouse, observing the rhythms of commerce and life in post-war Malaysia. His early memories include venturing down to a store filled with laughter and people arriving in trishaws at times to buy and sell jewellery. “My father first noticed that people who go to jewellery stores are always happy, nearly always celebrating a birthday, wedding or other joyous occasion. He knew he wanted to stay in the business of happiness,” Meer says.

At this time, Habib was primarily a diamond wholesaler supplying other jewellers. Penang was a free port, and Habib often drew business from Kelantan, Terengganu and the East Coast. “The jewellery business is all about trust,” Meer says, recognising his father’s values of integrity and honesty were foundational to Habib’s early success. “He was very well respected, and people want to associate with people they trust.” Trust allowed the business to flourish, with Meer’s father often receiving goods worth millions on credit or consignment through nothing more than a handshake agreement.

Keen to help his hardworking parents as much as possible, Meer sometimes spent hours after school at the store. “We didn’t have electronic weighing scales in those days. You had to have steady hands to manually weigh every gem and maintain detailed stock books. Along the way, I learned and developed a strong foundation just by listening to my father talk business.”

New directions

Meer returned from the United States in 1986, with a degree in business administration from Wichita State University and a gemology qualification from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). A day after returning, he began working for the company and soon after set about redefining Habib’s future. “Marketing was one of my favourite subjects, and none of it applied to the wholesaling business. I wanted to be dealing with customers directly, and so we went big on retail for the first time,” he says.

In the same year, Habib opened its first retail outlet at Semua House in Kuala Lumpur. “We thought Masjid India was the best place to start. In the 1980s it was a happening area, with established presences like Globe Silk Store and Mun Loong department store. There were vibrant banks within walking distance, and mini buses, taxis and cars had easy access to the area,” he recalls.

As Semua House had its own security, Meer felt it was a safe bet that allowed Habib to stay true to its DNA of doing things differently. It was a risk to open a jewellery store with an uncommon approach, doing away with metal grills in favour of a gallery-style space, and there were no guarantees the market would respond positively. “We didn’t have store designers and did it all ourselves to ensure comfort. It was a huge success, and we were the first jewellery store in that row,” he says.

Habib’s strong marketing efforts soon attracted other jewellers to the area, helping to shape Masjid India into Kuala Lumpur’s gold district. “Jewellery brands from India started to come in, including Malabar and Joyalukkas,” Meer recalls.

In 1998, Habib became a publicly listed company before returning to private ownership in 2005. “In the 1990s, having a listed company was a major milestone,” Meer says, noting that he had always envisioned Habib as the first Malaysian jeweller to go public. Yet the sparkle soon wore off as he steered the company through the Asian financial crisis and found pushing sales, profit forecasting and making announcements even less enjoyable. “Sometimes you need to know when to pull back. Profit is something that I never worry about because it will always come if you’re doing the right thing,” he reflects, satisfied that shareholders made their money and he was free to redefine the company’s direction.

When Semua House briefly shuttered in 2022 for upgrades, Habib was forced to relocate. “We are in the midst of building our three-level flagship store on Jalan Bunus,” Meer says. When the complex reopened in 2024, Habib became the first confirmed tenant in the revitalised space. “The homecoming will be quite different, as we plan to open our main store at the end of the year, while continuing to maintain a presence in both locations.”

Cultural currency

“The jewellery business is almost like running a bank,” Meer observes. “In Malaysia, people buy jewellery not just to adorn themselves, but as an investment. Gold has risen over 40 per cent this year alone, remaining a stable currency amid market fluctuations.” He notes that this instinct is deeply rooted in Malaysian culture: many older Malaysians still prefer gold over banks for savings, creating issues during the pandemic. “During the lockdown, people needed to sell their gold, but only banks were allowed to open,” he notes.

His advocacy for a luxury tax exemption on gold stemmed from the same belief: that jewellery in Malaysia transcends social class. “Buyers aren’t limited to the T20,” he stresses. “Everyone invests in gold, because it’s a part of who we are.”

Understanding these cultural nuances, Meer found European gold marketing puzzling, often exaggerated and focused on status rather than true investment. It led him to develop accessible, investment-friendly designs. “We created 0.20g gold wafers,” Meer says. Initially priced around RM100, they were meant to serve as meaningful festive gifts as a modern alternative to the traditional money packet. “While gold prices have climbed, we remain committed to keeping them within reach.”

Doing things differently

Habib continues to invest in research and development, creating gold wafer designs that celebrate Malaysian heritage and artistry, from the Petronas Twin Towers and Zoo Negara to wau kites, anyaman weaving and Peranakan tiles. “I’ve received heartfelt messages from colleagues in the industry, grateful to see our culture represented in this way. That keeps us going,” Meer shares.

By marrying local storytelling with international craftsmanship, Habib found global recognition for designs rooted in Malaysian identity. “We design locally and produce in Italy, leveraging their technology and expertise,” Meer explains. At a recent trade show in Italy, Habib’s creations drew remarkable interest from European, American and Middle Eastern players. “People wanted to speak to our team, praise our designs and some are now creating pieces inspired by the trends we introduced,” he adds.

Malaysian pride

In staying true to its ethos of doing things differently, Meer believes Habib’s greatest strength and source of identity lies in being proudly Malaysian. Sharing a long-held frustration, he says, “I started to notice that when it comes to our local brands, people think little of anything Malaysian-made. Some sincerely believe that anything from overseas is better.” The discrimination carries into shopping malls, where Meer noticed foreign brands often command prime locations. 

Determined to challenge this “post-colonial inferiority complex,” Habib has doubled down on efforts to celebrate local creativity and craftsmanship. This includes the establishment of the HARTA Museum, created to revive public appreciation for Malaysia’s jewellery heritage, and HARTA Space, which platforms both established and emerging artistic talents and drives efforts to preserve culture through talks and workshops by experts. 

“We want to put Malaysia on the map of the world, through our jewellery representing our culture, tradition and art,” Meer says. Establishing HARTA Museum required both significant investment and meticulous curation. Short for ‘Habib: Action for the Revival of Our Traditions and Arts,’ the museum today showcases over 800 unique Peranakan jewellery pieces, some more than 300 years old. “We probably have the largest collection of Malaysian antique jewellery in the world. The museum is also our research centre,” he adds, noting how important it is to document and learn from the past while continuing to innovate.

Family and philosophies

In business, Meer upholds his father’s values of honesty, integrity and trust, while remaining true to himself by being flexible and progressive in how he leads the company. When asked about Habib’s diversification strategy, he credits his eldest son, Mirzan Meer, for having an influential voice. “Inspired by the Rothschilds, he said the most valuable things on earth are collectibles, finance and property. And so, we’ve expanded into these areas.”

Under Meer’s leadership, Habib has grown into a multi-brand luxury group, introducing international names such as Pandora, Stephen Webster and Hearts on Fire to the Malaysian market. Homegrown ventures like Time Zone import exclusive timepieces, strengthening the group’s position in the world of collectibles. Ar-Rahnu Express, an Islamic pawnshop under the Habib Group, provides Shariah-compliant, interest-free micro-financing secured by gold, gemstones and jewellery. Meanwhile, Chantique, a pre-loved jewellery boutique, specialises in the restoration and resale of curated vintage, antique and modern pieces.

As for further expansion, Meer maintains a proudly local perspective. “Switzerland, London, New York and Paris might sound alluring, but in our experience, we’ve done better opening in Sungai Petani. We want to take care of our local customers before taking the next step.” Even so, Meer admits he has his eye on Indonesia. “Coincidentally, my daughter-in-law is Indonesian, so it worked out quite well,” he says, referring to singer-actress Pevita Pearce.

Committed to letting his children chart their own entrepreneurial paths, Meer is proud of his sons for pursuing passions beyond the family business. “Mirzan always wanted to be an architect and my youngest, Mirsham, has been a foodie since he was six years old, often tuned into the food channel,” he says. Today, both sons are involved in the family business in different capacities.

Briefly touching on succession, Meer explains, “Whoever eventually succeeds the company must be the most passionate, in addition to having the right skills. I’ve never expected my children to take on this work, unless it’s their foremost desire.”

Vision and legacy

Beyond the passion, skill and commercial sense extolled in Jim Collins’ Good to Great, which inspired him, Meer also hopes his future successor will recognise the importance of community and purpose. “After I read Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia, I began to reflect on what good can be done for our community and what it truly means to be part of it,” Meer says. This year, he continues to honour that commitment with the completion of a new RM30 million masjid in Penang. “It was my father’s dream,” he adds.

“We want to be the most loved Malaysian brand,” Meer says, expressing what he hopes will be Habib’s lasting legacy. With a lifelong commitment to education through Yayasan Habib, a celebration of the arts and heritage through HARTA, and an ecosystem that celebrates Malaysia’s heritage while embracing its modern identity, they are well on their way. For Meer, the true measure of gold lies not only in its karats, but in the values it embodies: trust, tradition and the timeless belief that Malaysians deserve to shine.

 

Source: Tatler