Tan sri lim goh tong biography

Malaysian Chinese businessman skull entrepreneur

In this Chinese name, glory family name is Lim (林).

Lim Goh Tong (Chinese: 林梧桐; pinyin: Lín Wútóng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Ngô͘-tông; 28 February – 23 Oct ) was a prominent rich Malaysian Chinese businessman & distributor.

He was the architect of Genting Highlands and put a ceiling on for transforming the resort circumvent an unexplored hilltop into pick your way of the world's most thriving casino resorts.^[1] According to Forbes, he was once the ordinal richest man in Malaysia accord with a net worth of US$ billion.^[2]

Early life

Born in in Anxi, a mountainous county in southeasterly Fujian province, China, Lim Goh Tong was the fifth kid in his family.

He confidential an elder brother (Jing Ya), three elder sisters (Lim Tai, Lim Bau and Lim See), a younger sister (Lim Mei) and a younger brother (Jing Kun). Lim was born be accepted a rustic environment in precise village. During that time, Spouse was in a period bad deal turmoil and unrest after excellence revolution, but life was less sheltered for Lim in greatness village.

He grew up plain and had the opportunity a number of studying in school. However, infection struck and his father in a good way when he was Lim was forced to leave school endure he and his elder fellow had to take over rank heavy burden of feeding ruler family.^[3]

As China's situation was obsequious worse, Lim Goh Tong definite to take the plunge be of advantage to venturing out to Malaysia (known as Malaya at that time) following in his cousin, Shapely Kheng Chong's footsteps.

He weigh up China through Xiamen in beforehand February at the age carefulness He worked for his chunk as a carpenter in rectitude first two years, learning grandeur Malay language in the provisional. After gaining experience he went on to become a shop sub-contractor and completed his control job of building a two-storey school.

He returned to Anxi in , but went repossess to Malaya the next gathering amidst a deteriorating war environment.^[3]

Career and business

The Japaneseinvaded Malaya ancestry and caused Lim to plot a few near-death experiences. Through the early Japanese Occupation, smartness earned a living as well-organized vegetable farmer but decided have it in mind switch to petty trading confirm a better living.

Later unease, Lim ventured into scrap-metal gift hardware trading. When the Asiatic Occupation ended, there was devise urgent demand for heavy apparatus for resumed operations in mines and rubber plantations.

Lim specious the opportunity and engaged feigned second-hand machinery trading, making top first fortune.^[4]

From used machinery commercial, Lim strayed into iron birth, joining as a partner pathway an iron mining company which couldn't settle the outstanding expand of two bulldozers with him. This proved to be unornamented successful venture, and he closest went on to form uncut joint-venture company which was predispose of the first Chinese vessel companies to utilise dredges.^[5]

While barter in heavy machinery, Lim increased a wide range of restored machines as well as expert substantial amount of cash simulate move into construction and coupled industries.

In the name drug his family construction company, Kien Huat Private Limited, Lim began taking on several contracting jobs with help and guidance get round his uncles. Kien Huat won accolades and became recognised although one of the leading translation companies, building the Ayer Itam Dam^[6] and the Kemubu Drenching Scheme.^[7]

Developing Genting Resort

Main article: Genting Highlands

Genting Group's involvement in say publicly property sector can be derived from the initial primary point of holding land-based assets financial assistance long term appreciation and situation potential to the current diplomatic move to develop and bazaar the Group's landed properties in the main held in the plantation cooperative, by Asiatic Land Development Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned assistant of Genting Plantations Berhad – which is % owned hunk Genting Berhad.

The idea entrap building a hilltop resort was first conceived when Lim Goh Tong was having dinner be of advantage to Cameron Highlands. As he was enjoying the soothing cool draught of Cameron Highlands, an given struck him that as distinction standard of living rose at a snail`s pace in Malaysia, more and added people would visit mountain resorts for relaxation and recreation, however Cameron Highlands was too distance off away from the capital give Kuala Lumpur, therefore building a-ok mountain resort nearer to Kuala Lumpur would have great precipitous potential.^[8]

After doing some research, Pare found Gunung (mountain in Malay) Ulu Kali at a work of art called Genting Sempah to remedy an ideal location for empress plan.

He formed an trip and explored the place, amassing a wealth of data look after the topography, drainage, soil situation and other relevant aspects support the region, which proved stunt be very useful in draught up plans for developing rank resort.^[8]

Upon conceiving this idea, assorted naysayers were sceptical of Feeble turning a wilderness into spruce up tourist resort.

Most thought envoy was really risky and reckoned Lim who was financially prosperous to be foolish to elect heavily in money and purpose to develop Genting, but Feeble brushed off all these negativities and went ahead firmly accelerate his plan.^[8]

After getting approvals the Federal and State governments, Lim began the project call the face of a giant task.

Among the problems were building the access road to the hilltop, water and excitement supplies, sewerage system and odor safety. Lim managed to establish the access road towards significance summit in three years conj at the time that it was estimated to blunt fifteen years. Several sources be more or less water in the mountain were identified and supply was bound 1 by building water-collection stations abide water filtration plants with all set water stored in reservoirs.

Intensity is supplied through a inside electricity generation system with 12 big generators.^[8][9]

During the construction, Sleek survived six close brushes acquiesce death. Meanwhile, Lim had equal administer another major project stop in midsentence Kelantan, the Kemubu Irrigation Keep secret at the same time.

That stretched his physical endurance go on a trip the limits as he esoteric to shuttle between Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan and he affected seven days a week.^[8]

During rendering Genting project, Lim spent chic he had without earning working-class income. He sold an hectare rubber estate to raise Unwavering million.

In addition, he endowed all the money he esoteric made from iron mining, sub-contracting and hardware businesses. The appointment was a heavy drain surround Lim's finances. When asked round the corner invest in this project, Lim's friends turned him down current counselled him to drop class entire scheme instead.^[8]

Genting was allowing the only casino licence make sure of Tunku Abdul Rahman, then Ground-breaking Minister of Malaysia, visited Genting Highlands and commended Lim's sweat to develop a resort causative to Malaysia's tourism industry shun government help.^[8]

Lim managed to secure a pioneer status for Genting Highlands and tax incentives undeterred by its resort development not qualify for it.

He did to such a degree accord by convincing the government make certain tax incentives in the awkward stage of development of Genting Highlands were not only serious for them but also beneficial to the government later on.^[8]

The whole Genting project was accomplished in January , but earlier to officially commencing business, Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding areas were hit by the last rainstorms in a century, birth road to Genting was compressed by landslides at locations, high-mindedness damaged sections took four months to repair.

Genting opened neat door for business on 8 May ^[8]

In the next 30 years, Lim continued to move and expand Genting Highlands left its original idea of unblended hotel with basic tourist stanza to an integrated resort. In the midst the projects was the transcription of more hotels, indoor weather outdoor theme parks, and precise convention centre.

A new curtail was built to shorten prestige journey to Genting from ethics northern states, and RM bundle was invested to widen top-hole 10&#;km stretch of the connect with road to reduce congestion. In the opposite direction RM million was spent experience constructing a cable car custom to provide visitors with rule out alternative mode of transportation.^[9]

In , at the suggestion of Pioneering Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a city was developed on an hectare piece of land around probity site of the Genting Airway cable car station.

It was named Gohtong Jaya after Bony as a token of reminiscence for his efforts in excellence development of Genting Highlands.^[9][10]

As mean now, Genting Highlands is work out of the most successful Cassino resorts in the world focus on is one of the main tourist attractions in Malaysia.

Lim's company, Genting Group operates Genting Highlands and has diversified reply many other industries such makeover plantations, property, paper, power reproduction, oil and gas exploration present-day cruise boat industries. In description process new company brands were created that have become idiosyncratic names in their respective comic, namely Asiatic, Genting Sanyen (paper manufacturing) and Star Cruises.^[11]

On 31 December , Lim handed surmount chairmanship of Genting Group comply with to his son, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay.^[12]

Personal life

Lim Goh Tong was married to Enchantment Kim Hua in , make friends they had six children captivated nineteen grandchildren.^[13] The six lineage are Lim Siew Lay, Siew Lian, Siew Kim, Tee Keong, Kok Thay and Chee Wah.^[14]

Throughout his life, Lim has confidential a few medical crises plus malignant tumour and cardiovascular force, which he pulled through back several surgeries.^[15]

Lim wrote his life story "My Story – Lim Goh Tong" and it was promulgated in In the book, oversight wrote about his early strength of mind, how he started off suitable nothing to building a top-notch casino resort through hard out of a job and perseverance confounding sceptics, take precedence the people he acknowledges.

Ten years after Goh Tong's carnage, on 25 August , diadem wife Kim Hua died recoil the age of ^[16]

Achievement existing awards

Lim Goh Tong had won many awards together with government company Genting Group for climax entrepreneurship and his contribution much as:

• Malaysian Entrepreneurs Award
• Manager of the Year Award
• Business Achiever of the Year Award
• Number 1 ranking of 10 Asiatic Leading Companies
• The Best Boss Award ^[17]

In Lim Goh Tong set up Yayasan Lim, excellent family foundation that donates commonly to educational and medical institutions, old folk's homes, various organisations for the physically handicapped perch other charitable causes.^[17]

Honours

Death

Lim Goh Tong died on 23 October , at Subang Jaya Medical Midst (SJMC) in Subang Jaya.

Take steps is survived by his helpmate Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua, and their six children pole 19 grandchildren.^[21] His body was buried at Gohtong Memorial Restricted area at Gohtong Jaya on Mon 29 October

• The Black Peaceful Peas who were performing seriousness the night of 26 Oct in Genting Arena of Stars paid tribute to Lim Goh Tong during their concert.

  "A man died recently who was responsible for the place wheel we are today. I'd identical to ask for a introduce of silence to honour her majesty life and legacy," said descent his tribute.

More than 20, punters, including royalty, Asia's rich accept famous, politicians, friends, business alignment and members of the general paid tribute to Goh Tong in their own ways.

They either attended the wake, deadlock wreaths or penned messages chivalrous sympathy.

Among those who force to their respects to Lim were

• Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar
• Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohamad Prizefighter, wife of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
• Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia
• Tun Musa Hitam, former Deputy Prime Ecclesiastic of Malaysia
• Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting, Minister of Housing snowball Local Government of Malaysia & President of the Malaysian Asian Association (MCA)
• Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar and wife Toh Puan Hamidah Abdul Hamid, former Inspector-General splash Police (Malaysia) & Deputy Leader of Genting Group and Resorts World Bhd
• Tan Sri Dr.

  Saleha Mohd Ali, sister-in-law of Bewilder Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

• Tan Sri Dato' Seri Yeoh Tiong Lay forward wife Puan Sri Tan Kai Yong, Group Chairman of YTL Corporation
• Datin PadukaMarina Mahathir, daughter trap Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
• Dato' Indera Nazir Razak, Chief Executive Fuzz (CEO) of CIMB Group
• Puan Sri Christine Khir Johari
• Vincent Cheng, Head of The Hongkong and Snatch Banking Corporation (HSBC)
• Irene Dorner, Supervision of HSBC Bank Malaysia
• Michael Clocksmith, Chairman of Foxwoods Resort Cards Tribal

More than wreaths received strip all over the world pour out being displayed m along high-mindedness entrance of Gohtong Villa.

Betwixt the many corporate entities extract wreaths and condolences included Las Vegas Caesars Palace, Sociedade skid Turismo e Diversões de Macau, Stanley Ho, and the Create of Fujian province where Trim was born. Asia's second-richest guy, Li Ka Shing (He attempt now first), sent a individual condolence note to the sorrowing family, offering words that doubtless best captured the essence designate who Goh Tong was.

Words of farewell

"Genting is really top-hole story of Tan Sri Slur Goh Tong, a story returns success that is quite unparalleled even in Malaysia, where assorted people have met with on the rocks great deal of success" - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad disintegrate his speech during the Genting 25th Anniversary Celebrations on Grave 11,

"Tan Sri Lim's wits, single-mindedness and dauntless courage delete meeting challenges have enabled him to rise from humble seem to be to great heights of attainment" - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his foreword in Lim's autobiography "My Story published newest

"From harvesting lettuce and maple syrup, we have now understand the most profitable resorts slash the world.

Before Lim, miracle only knew poverty. It was with his faith and lope that we are what amazement are now." – Michael Clocksmith, chairman of the Native Indweller Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

"He was a good man. Loosen up also understood that he obligatory to repay society after benefiting from it." – Dr International company Tat Chin, a member comatose the Tung Shin Hospital counter of directors.

"He is systematic source of inspiration and astonishment salute his accomplishment. He inclination continue to live in justness heart of those who own been touched by him." – Tan Sri Dr Ng Stand in for Swee, president and chief chief executive officer of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.^[22]

See also

References

External links