Milestones, Achievements & Awards
Xiao En Group has accomplished much since it was first established in the 1980s. With over three decades of history, our milestones are symbols of our commitment to serving with empathy and care like that of family, alongside the diligence and professionalism that has earned the trust of the community.
The “Life & Death” 2024 community tour is officially launching, with stops planned in Klang, Kuching and Kelantan to share the message. This initiative aims to bring life education resources to secondary cities and rural communities, offering those in need the opportunity to appreciate the value of being “living” through the perspectives of “understanding life through death and understanding death through life.”
Before the Life Practitioners begin their community tour, an exclusive internal premiere screening was held, allowing all Xiao En colleagues to get a preview.
Kelantan Chung Hwa Independent High School warmly invites Life Practitioners to Kelantan, where they will join local teachers, students, parents, and community members in a journey of life exploration. This initiative aims to spread the seeds of Life Education to the East Coast.
![[Award] The 10th Sin Chew Business Excellence Award](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Milestones_20240323.webp)
Dato’ Frank Choo received the “Business Excellence Person of the Year” at the 10th Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards. He fulfilled his father’s wish by transforming Xiao En’s corporate culture into a social function, a force beyond mere profit.
Exploring the Meaning of Life and Death
In 2024, the first out-of-state Life Education sharing session, extends beyond the capital city to reach more communities in need. This initiative aims to help everyone cherish the preciousness of being “Living” while respecting life.
Managing Director of Xiao En Group, Dato Frank Choo, was selected by Tatler Asia as one of the most influential figures in Asia for 2023. We thank Tatler Asia for recognizing Xiao En’s efforts and dedication over the years.
Following the DeathFest in 2018, this is the first high school to continue using the curatorial approach for life education. Xiao En Group as the collaborating partner for this event.
《草稿 Draf》x Xiao En: Exploring life from the perspective of funeral spaces
On 25th November 2023, 《草稿 Draf》and Xiao En co-hosted the “「归零」Reset” experiential workshop, guiding everyone to observe and experience the process of embracing life through death. In Xiao En Memorial Park and Xiao En Centre, utilizing the relationship between “architecture, space, and people,” we combine life education with dialogue aimed at the general public, encouraging individuals to confront life and death directly.
On 4th October 2023, Xiao En Group fulfilled the last wishes of the first departed, settling their cremated remains in the “ash burial zone” of Xiao En Memorial Park, marking the first instance of such a burial method in Malaysia. This innovative approach allows life to spring forth from nature and return to it, thereby inaugurating a new chapter in Malaysia’s funeral history.
On 23rd September 2023, five “Life Practitioners” from the Xiao En Group visited the Chong Hwa Independent High School, KL to share their life stories with teachers and students.
In September 2023, Xiao En Group partnered with Eslite Malaysia to launch the Life Care series at Eslite Spectrum Kuala Lumpur, The StarHill. The series featured director Tsai Ming Liang, Fong Yee Leong, Life Practitioners, and illustrator Ikuwashi, using arts and culture to explore life’s dimensions, promoting life care and offering warmth to the public on complex life issues.
From 15-16 July 2023, the Life and Death Forum, organized by the Fo Guang Shan and supported by Xiao En Group, unfolded over two days of meaningful and profound dialogue across various aspects of life. It provided attendees with multiple perspectives to contemplate their own “meaning of life.” Five Life Practitioners further fulfilled their mission of “helping others and helping oneself” by sharing their life stories and experiences.
On June 2, 2023, the Negeri Sembilan state government and Xiao En Group jointly launched the state’s first eco-friendly burial site, the “Ash Burial Park.” The ash burial draws inspiration from the model of Taiwan’s Dharma Drum Mountain, featuring a streamlined yet dignified funeral process.
Taiwan Funeral Industry Summit – The Modern Role of Life and Death Care Teams
Thanks to the invitation from Taiwan Nanhua University (NHU), the Life Practitioners has stepped onto the international stage, transcending layers of cultural and knowledge differences, exchanging with Taiwan’s funeral industry, and jointly enhancing the humanistic care literacy of funeral workers.
Embrace Life: A Journey of Spiritual Growth Together
On December 17, 2022, the ” Embrace Life: A Journey of Spiritual Growth Together ” sharing event, organized by Xiao En Group and TEDx Petaling Street Adventure, featured five Life Practitioners who, through their various professional roles and life stories, shared segments of life, embarking on journeys of profound exploration.
Xiao En Group has been promoting “Life Education” for over a decade, collaborating with schools and integrating the five major service aspects of the funeral cycle since 2022 to guide participants in embracing life through death and understanding the importance of cherishing life and accompanying others through a genuine understanding of death.
The final chapter of Life Cast, titled “Facing Life Here and Now” centered around the theme of ” Living in the Present”, premiered on September 9, 2022. This episode marked the conclusion to Season 3’s program.
The third season of “Life Cast” premiered on April 1, 2022, focusing on the five aspects of ” Family Care, Clinical Care, Bereavement Care, Park Operation, and Counselling & Support,” which constitute a holistic life service. Through the shared life experiences of the hosts, guests, and life practitioners, the program aims to convey a message of facing life and death with composure. This season also invites live audience not only to listen to speakers and musical performances but also to actively participate in the discussions on-site.
On February 22, 2022, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Xiao En Tower of Light in Kuala Lumpur took place. This project stands as one of the iconic endeavors of Xiao En Group, and its commencement marks a significant milestone in the group’s investment and development efforts, signifying a further breakthrough in growth.
Xiao En Group and The Interview once again jointly present “Life Cast” Season Two, which premiered on June 25, 2021. Focused on the impact of the Covid pandemic and life reflections as the main theme, the show invites different speakers every month to chat, narrating various life stories under the pandemic. The new season program also includes an audience interaction segment, allowing viewers who wish to share to come online and interact with the host and guest speakers.
Xiao En supports the “Deathfest World Tour 2021” event to promote the life-death education globally. A team of 18 professional speakers held a 34-hours non-stop virtual talks in related with life and death topics.
Xiao En Group and The Interview jointly presented the “Life Cast” talk show on December 18, 2020, creating a space for open dialogue. Hosts and guests engage in discussions on various topics, chatting about life and ideas.
![[Award] READER’ S DIGEST – Quality Service Award](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2020a.jpg)
Xiao En won the Silver Award – QUALITY SERVICE AWARD by READER DIGEST, in the Malaysian Funeral Category.
![[Award] “Honorable Role Model” by The Worldwide Excellence Award](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2019b.jpg)
Dato Frank Choo, the managing director of Xiao En Group, was awarded the “Honorable Role Model” by the Worldwide Excellence Award. This shows that persistence is the best inheritance.
Xiao En and the only artistic Chinese glassware Taiwan brand – [Liuli Gongfang / Liuli Crystal Art designed a special series of LIULI columbarium for Court of Chaya.
In 2018, Xiao En Group presented the first Malaysia Death Fest 1.0, where we receive a great attendance and response from the public.
![[MoU] Taiwan Nanhua University](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2018a.jpg)
Xiao En Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Taiwan Nanhua University to foster a Cross-Cultural Exchange in related with life-death education. The MoU was signed under the presence of Venerable Jue Cheng, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Malaysia.
The Nanhua students from Life-and-Death Studies can have the opportunities to conduct their education internship at Xiao En.
[Promoting the Silent Mentor Program]
Xiao En invested RM3 million to build a new AFSM centre at the size of 8,000 sqft in Xiao En Centre. The monthly rental fee was only RM1 and Xiao En donated a few hundred thousand ringgits to purchase medical equipment to support the CSR Silent Mentor program.
Xiao En Group celebrates its 30th anniversary.
![[Award] The “Role Model” Award by HK Chinese Cemetery](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2015a.jpg)
Datin Choo Lein Sei Keng won the “Role Model” award presented by the Hong Kong Chinese Cemetery Security Committee.
The Peace Memorial Columbarium was completed.
Xiao En collaborates with Gecinta Malaysia to build a columbarium project. Part of the profits from 9.1 Columbarium will be contributed as part of the association’s future projects in related with 9.1 commemoration.
![[Award] Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2013b.jpg)
Xiao En was awarded the “Product and Service Quality Excellence Award” and “CSR Excellence Award” by Sin Chew Daily.
The first funeral company in Malaysia that established a counselling & consultation department.
Xiao En Group collaborates with the Universiti Malaya and Taiwan Tzu Chi University to establish the “Silent Mentor Program”.
Upon completion of Xiao En Water Village, Mr. Keng Choo Cheng Siong, Director of Design and Planning of Xiao En Group, designs a series of Guanyin Bodhisattva, jointly designed together with experts from Malaysia, China, and Australia.
The Life Book was published.
![[Award] Dato Award Recognition](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2010c.jpg)
Mr. Choo Chuo Siong, Managing Director of Xiao En Group, was awarded the title of Dato at the 80th birthday of His Highness the Sultan of Pahang.
Upon the completion of Xiao En Centre, Xiao En Group officially opened the one-stop funeral service of “Xiao En Cares”.
The opening ceremony of building the Anti-Japanese Martyrs Monument.
A new garden-style columbarium was built.
![[Award] Wanita MCA Chinese Women Entrepreneur Award](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2007a.jpg)
Datin Choo Lein Sei Keng, Chairman of Xiao En Group, was awarded the “MCA Best Female Entrepreneur” award.
Construction of Xiao En Centre begins.
![[Award] Malaysia’s Most Outstanding Chinese Entrepreneur](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2005a.jpg)
Datin Choo Lein Sei Keng, Chairman of Xiao En Group, was awarded “Malaysia’s Most Outstanding Chinese Entrepreneur”.
![[Award] World Top Ten Cemetery Planning and Management Companies](https://xiao-en.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Milestones_2005b.jpg)
Xiao En Group was selected as one of the “World Top Ten Cemetery Planning and Management Companies”.
Kelab Gecinta Malaysia and Xiao En Group have collaborated to build Peace Memorial Centre.
In co-operation with Rockwills Group, we launched the “Palliative Care and financial planning” package.
Ground-breaking ceremonies were held for Anti-Japanese Martyrs Monument and 9.1 Remembrance Day.
The Quadrangle Court in Xiao En Memorial Park was completed in accordance with Beijing’s traditional architectural format.
Launched Six “Funeral Services Packages”.
Established partnership with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Malacca to create the “Melaka Memorial Park”.
Xiao En sponsored the “Family Doctrine of Zhu Xi” under Malaysia Choo Clan Association.
The Xiao En Temple was completed. The “Western Trinity” (Malaysia’s largest wood-carved Buddha statues) was placed in the temple.
Datin Choo Lein Sei Keng assumed the position of chairman of Xiao En Group’s board of directors.
Founder Dato Choo Ching Hwa passed away at the age of 64.
The first modern air-conditioned columbarium in Malaysia was officially opened.
A 100-acres of land was purchased for Xiao En Memorial Park’s expansion, to build a cemetery and columbarium.
Xiao En Memorial Park was officially opened to the public for visitation.
The state government approval was granted to develop Xiao En Memorial Park.
The cemetery was named “Xiao En Memorial Park”, inscribed by The late Master Boyuan.
The company registered under the name “Rest Park”.
