MPH Group
| MPH Group (M) Sdn Bhd | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Private limited company |
| Industry | Retail (Specialty) |
Number of locations | 29 |
| Products | Books, magazines, stationery, greeting cards |
MPH Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd[1] is a Malaysian group of companies best known for its book retailing and online retailing services as well as being involved in the printing, publishing and distribution of books and library services in Malaysia and Singapore. Its bookstore chain, MPH Bookstores Sdn Bhd, headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, is among the largest in Malaysia after Popular.[2][3]
History
Captain W.G. Shellabear is recognized as the founder of MPH. In 1890, he established the Amelia Bishop Press in Singapore, publishing Christian literature. The company eventually began publishing secular works as well, changing its name to the American Mission Press in 1893. In the 1900s, Rev. William T. Cherry expanded the organization's activities to printing, publishing, bookselling, and book distribution. He changed the company's name to Methodist Publishing House in 1906, giving rise to the acronym 'MPH', as the company is known today.[2]
MPH underwent further name changes between the 1920s and 1960s (1927: Malaya Publishing House; 1963: Malaysia Publishing House) but the acronym remained. The company also changed ownership multiple times, being acquired by an Indonesian consortium in 1966, then a Hong Kong group in 1972 and finally by Singaporean entrepreneur Simon Cheong in 1999. In 2002, Jalinan Inspirasi Sdn Bhd, acquired the company. This was the first time MPH became a wholly Malaysian-owned company.[2]
Bookstores
In early 2019 MPH had 29 bookstores in Malaysia and three in Singapore.[4][5] It had a heavy presence in the Klang Valley, operating in major shopping outlets including Mid Valley. Its bookstores in Singapore were located at Raffles City, Parkway Parade, and in the SingPost Centre in Paya Lebar.
Following a partial lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic and several social media posts alleging the closure of nine MPH stores nationwide including four in the Klang Valley, Malay Mail’s checks with staff members confirmed that the MPH outlet in Subang Parade will close on 6 June 2020.
Online bookstore
MPH has also branched out into the online book retailing in 2000.[citation needed]
References
- ↑ "About MPH Bookstores (Singapore) Pte Ltd". MPH Group. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
- 1 2 3 "A Passage Through Time - A Brief History of MPH". MPH Group. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
- ↑ "About Us". Popular Book Company (M) Sdn Bhd. Archived from the original on August 13, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ↑
- Melissa Chan, End Of A Chapter: Why MPH Bookstores Is Closing Its Last Two Outlets In S’pore, vulcanpost.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ↑ Loheswar, R. "Readers reminisce as two MPH bookstores in Klang Valley close on June 6, others may follow suit | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 2021-05-09.