A Family of Entrepreneurs
Pang is the youngest son of six siblings. Business, he said, runs in their blood. Each sibling has carved their own path — different trades, different stories, but all rooted in enterprise. “My late father drove a lorry,” Pang shared. “He wasn’t home much, but when he was, he always reminded us — work for yourself, not for someone else.” That advice, planted early, stuck with him. Although Pang initially wanted to leave school at 15, his mother insisted he complete his education up to Form 5.
After school, he dabbled in various jobs — working in restaurants, fixing motorbikes — gaining exposure to the grind and uncertainty of daily work. “It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure,” he recalled. But when his elder brother, who had started a frame shop, decided to pivot into fish-selling, he turned to Pang. And just like that, Pang stepped in — not as a placeholder, but as someone ready to make the business his own.
Building with Patience and Purpose
Pang took over with modest beginnings. His father supported him with capital to buy a machine and handed him some stock to get started. Slowly, steadily, the shop filled with goods. He didn’t rush — he built. “The shop itself was my grandfather’s,” Pang said. “It was handed down.”
Over time, the shop evolved beyond just frames. Today, it’s a multi-skill space: custom glasswork, mirrors, windows, even furniture glass. “People may not realise we do more than frames,” he said. “There’s real skill involved.” Recently, he began refurbishing the space to give it a more modern, professional look — not flashy, but contemporary and comfortable. For Pang, moving with the times doesn’t mean erasing the past — it means evolving with respect.
A Business of Ups and Downs
“To be honest, it’s not a difficult business,” Pang reflected. “But it has its ups and downs.” There are months that do well, and months that don’t. And in recent years, rising costs have brought new challenges. “After MCO, everything became more expensive,” he said. “Glass, wood, mounting boards — prices have gone up, sometimes doubled.”
Customers don’t always understand the pressure. Some tell Pang that it’s expensive. But Pang holds firm to his values — quality work and excellent service come first. “People come to us because they can rely on our work,” he emphasised.
Keeping An Open Mind
If there’s a thread that runs through Pang’s business philosophy, it’s diligence — matched with adaptability. “You have to have an open mind. You have to want to do better,” he emphasised. “Trends change, customers change. Everything is so accessible now through the internet. You have to keep up.” He speaks with admiration of his sister, who runs a business in Nilai 3 and has already gone online.
Inspired by her, Pang is now looking to expand his visibility through digital channels — not just for exposure, but to explore new merchandise and create more customer touchpoints. “Going online is the only way to let people know that I’m here,” he said. “You cannot just sit in the shop and wait.” He has also begun collaborating with souvenir shops, catering to their custom framing needs — another quiet, proactive move to grow the business by building relationships.
Work Is Work — On the Land Too
His work ethic isn’t confined to the shop. Pang also runs a dragon fruit farm on a piece of land that belongs to his father. “We’re not afraid of hard work,” he said. “Uncertainty just comes with the territory.” Farming is different from framing — but the spirit is the same. It’s about showing up, day after day, and doing the work. No shortcuts.
Manpower and Mentorship
One of the challenges in trades like framing is talent continuity. Skilled workers are hard to come by, and even harder to retain. But Pang has been fortunate. “I’m lucky to have workers who have stayed with me for quite a few years,” he says. “It’s not always easy, especially since younger people may not find the trade interesting.”
Still, he holds on to hope. He has three young boys, aged 5 to 11. Whether they’ll carry the business forward, Pang doesn’t yet know — but he’s planting the seeds. “I want to encourage them,” he said. “But I would never force them. If they want to take a different path, even follow their wife’s direction — that’s a choice I must respect.” It’s a grounded perspective, built not on expectations, but acceptance.
Business as a Vehicle
Asked what advice he would give to other business owners, Pang pauses thoughtfully. “You have to be hardworking,” he said. “Be willing to learn. Be eager to adapt.”
And when it comes to family businesses, he’s clear-eyed. There are many who don’t want to take over what their parents built. To him, that’s a loss.
“If it’s business, they should take it on,” he said. “If they don’t, it’s a loss. With a salary, you only get that much. With business, you have the pathway and vehicle to achieve your greatest potential.”
A Transformation in Motion
Pang doesn’t overstate his journey. He speaks with a steady voice, never one to dramatise his success. But what comes through is gratitude — for the opportunity handed down to him, and for the chance to keep it alive.
In his hands, Nilai Oldtown Frame Shop isn’t just surviving — it’s quietly transforming. From updating the shopfront to exploring digital platforms, Pang is building a business that respects its past while looking to the future.
It may not make headlines, but it’s the kind of story that holds weight — the story of a man who showed up, took the baton, and continues to run the race each day.
