From manufacturing wooden components in the 1980s to specialising in the production of doors, his expertise was passed down to his son. Now Eng himself stands proudly at the helm of his own furniture company, Balak’s.

Marketing director Lim Zheng Chang talks to FMT about the proudly Malaysian-owned, sourced and manufactured Penang-based business.

“Lucas and I have known each other since primary school,” 24-year-old Chang begins. “We’re very close – this is actually the second company we’ve entered into together.”

Their first business venture was a successful foray into the fashion industry selling bracelets while the pair was still in college.

“We were really passionate about running a start-up then, and still are now. When Lucas came up with Balak’s last year and told me about it, I was quickly onboard.”

The company came about as a solution to the host of issues spawned by the Covid-19 pandemic. With 2020 ushering in an era of working from home, Lucas started to notice an uptick in musculoskeletal problems that he himself and other family members started experiencing.

And so Balak’s was born in December 2020.

“It only took about a month to launch,” Chang says. “We’re lucky because Lucas had all of his father’s resources available to him, and friends helped out as well.”

With its name derived from the Malay word for timber, Balak’s creations prioritise ergonomic functionality and comfort to cater for long hours spent hunched over laptops at home.

“You can adjust the height of the tables to cater for what’s most comfortable for you, relieving pressure on your spine,” Chang explains. “They’re also made of solid wood and have reinforced frames to provide extra stability.”

Chang stresses that having a conducive workspace, especially at home, promotes productivity, especially in this day and age.

“We care about the general wellbeing of our customers. When you have a proper workspace with the right atmosphere, you’re comfortable. Our desks can help you get there by looking out for your body while you work away at your computer,” he adds.

“It’s quite depressing having to stay at home,” he says with a laugh. “Having an inviting workspace really brightens your day.”

Balak’s current Merdeka campaign, which runs from Aug 30 to Sept 16, features discounts on a range of products, with 10% of sales donated to the non-profit organisation The Hope Branch.

“Balak’s is very proud to be a Malaysian born and bred company. We use Meranti wood ethically sourced from Kelantan and Terengganu, and our artisans practise techniques Lucas’ family has been using for decades.”

“We felt it only right to give back to our community, to do something for people who need it the most,” he said, referring to the current pandemic.

Balak’s operates on a factory to customer basis, which Chang shares has made the restrictions imposed as a result of the full MCO a huge blow to the company.

With a backlog of orders to fulfil, Balak’s have been frantically trying to keep customers updated on their orders via text.

“There have been a lot of bumps in the road recently. SOPs meant that our factories couldn’t operate for a while, and then we had a few positive cases so had to shut down production. We never know what challenges the next day will bring,” he says, adding that they are barely keeping their heads above water at the moment.

Despite these setbacks, Chang remains optimistic for the future of the company and trusts in Eng’s leadership implicitly.

The camaraderie between Balak’s workers is evident, with Eng paying homage to his dedicated workforce on the company’s website, each having a brief portfolio of their own.

Attributing Eng’s work ethic to his father’s influence, Chang shares that just like his father, Eng has always prioritised his employees.

“Lucas cares a lot about the people around him…his family and the tight-knit team at Balak’s in particular. The company couldn’t be what it is today without all our craftsmen, and to them he’s eternally grateful.

Chang says Balak’s is more than typical furniture makers. “Our passion doesn’t end with our products, they extend to the wellbeing of our team, customers and community.”