 | |
| Company type | Private limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Specialty) |
| Founded | 1890, asAmelia Bishop Press |
| Headquarters | Petaling Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia |
Number of locations | 15[1] |
| Products | Books,magazines,stationery,greeting cards |
| Subsidiaries | MPH Bookstores Sdn Bhd MPH Distributors Sdn Bhd MPH Group Printing MPH Group Publishing |
| Website | http://www.mphonline.com/ |
MPH Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd[2] is aMalaysian group of companies best known for its bookretailing and online retailing services as well as being involved in the printing, publishing and distribution of books and library services in Malaysia andSingapore. Itsbookstore chain,MPH Bookstores Sdn Bhd, headquartered inPetaling Jaya,Selangor, has been among the largest in Malaysia afterPopular.[3][4] In 2020 MPH closed many of its bookstores in Malaysia and Singapore and concentrated its efforts on selling books via its online bookstore.[5][6][7][8]
CaptainW.G. Shellabear is recognized as the founder of MPH. In 1890, he established theAmelia Bishop Press inSingapore, publishingChristian literature. The company eventually began publishing secular works as well, changing its name to theAmerican 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 toMethodist Publishing House in 1906, giving rise to the acronym 'MPH', as the company is known today.[3] Beginning in 1906 the firm published the Malay Literature Series.
The administration and editor's office of the Methodist Publishing House was located in a two storey Edwardian style building at the corner ofStamford Road andArmenian Street in Singapore. Constructed in 1907-08, the building housed a printing press and also served for decades as an MPH bookstore.[9][10]
MPH changed its name in 1927 to theMalaya Publishing House and in 1963 it was renamed as theMalaysia Publishing House, but throughout the acronym MPH remained. The company also changed ownership multiple times, being acquired by anIndonesian consortium Led By Mr Tjio Wie Thay A.k.a Masagung in 1966, then aHong Kong group, Jack Chia-MPH, in 1972[10] and finally by Singaporean entrepreneurSimon Cheong in 1999. In 2002, Jalinan Inspirasi Sdn Bhd, acquired the company. This was the first time MPH became a wholly Malaysian-owned company.[3]
In early 2019 MPH had 29 bookstores in Malaysia and three in Singapore.[5][6] It had a heavy presence in theKlang Valley, operating in major shopping outlets includingMid Valley. Its bookstores in Singapore were located at Raffles City, Parkway Parade, and in the SingPost Centre inPaya Lebar.
Following a partial lockdown from theCOVID-19 pandemic and several social media posts alleging the closure of nine MPH stores nationwide including four in theKlang Valley, MPH staff members confirmed that their outlet inSubang Parade would be closing on 6 June 2020.[5] Following the online speculation, in June 2020 the MPH Group CEO Donald Kee issued a statement outlining "its strategy as a transition into a more e-commerce-focused retail format, consolidating non-performing stores and pooling resources for a digital-business push", as well as deploying "high-tech vending machines placed in strategic locations", and launching a "social interactive e-learning platform".[8] He added that the firm would "maintain its key physical locations".[8]
MPH branched out into the online book retailing via its MPHOnline.com website in 2000.[5][7]