Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong

1 Asiatic Development Berhad • Annual Report 2007
TAN SRI (Dr.) LIM GOH TONG
28 February 1918 – 23 October 2007
The story of Lim Goh Tong, founder of the Genting Group, is a unique,
inspiring Malaysian success story. He arrived in Malaysia in 1937 as a
penniless young man without any tertiary education and went on to
create the Genting Group – one of Asia’s leading conglomerates.
He was often named amongst the world’s most successful Asian
entrepreneurs. To many, he was the legend who at the age of 47,
embarked on a vision of turning a remote mountain into today’s highly
successful Genting Highlands Resort – Malaysia’s premier tourist
destination.
His life story and values are an inspiration to all. He dared to dream
dreams and had the courage and conviction to turn them into reality. He
did not study beyond primary school, yet was fearless in turning life’s
challenges into opportunities. His distinct entrepreneurial style blended
street savvy with well-timed risk-taking and relentless hands-on
management. He had a huge appetite for work, vacation was not in his
vocabulary. But above all, he was extremely humble, often addressing
himself as a simple traditional Chinese businessman.
Lim was born in 1918 in Anxi in China’s southern Fujian province. He
was the fifth child and second son of a vegetable-seed trader. When his
father died, 16-year-old Lim left school and took over the trading
business, hawking his goods along country roads.
Determined to support his mother and siblings financially, at 19 he
ventured to work in Malaya. Starting as a carpenter, he went on to trade
in used equipment and machinery, investing profits earned into
small-scale mining ventures and plantations. Eventually, he established
his own construction company called ‘Kien Huat’ and through
dedication and hard work became a successful Class A contractor,
completing many major public infrastructure projects.
After Malaysia’s independence, he was awarded the contract to build
the country’s first dam – the RM12 million Ayer Itam Dam in Penang.
His other major projects included the RM5.2 million Sultan Yahya Petra
Bridge in Kota Bharu, the RM20 million Hydroelectric Power Project in
Cameron Highlands and the RM54 million Kemubu Irrigation Scheme.
In 1964, while working in Cameron Highlands, he was inspired to build
a highland resort for everyone to enjoy the cool mountain air. He
identified Gunung Ulu Kali, a 1,800-metre high mountain plateau
overlooking the country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, straddling the border
between the states of Selangor and Pahang.
Many regarded this vision as an impossible dream, especially at a time
when he could afford to retire comfortably. “The Genting project fitted
my idea of an ideal business: Nobody else was interested in it,” Lim
wrote in his autobiography. Undeterred, he ploughed all his savings
into turning his dream resort into reality. His humility, determination
and proven track record as a contractor won the confidence of the
authorities who approved his application to acquire and develop 6,000
hectares of land for the project.
On 8 August 1965, he began constructing the access road to the
summit of Mount Ulu Kali through the dense tropical rainforest and
rugged mountainous terrain. He devoted all his time, money and
resources, even risking his life several times to complete this crucial
access road within three years, instead of the original six-year target.
On 31 March 1969, when the foundation stone for the first hotel was
laid, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra said the
Government would consider a casino licence to further develop tourism
in this remote area. On 28 April 1969, Malaysia granted its first and only
casino licence to Genting.
On 8 May 1971, Genting Highlands Resort opened for business and
became a great success story. Today, it is Malaysia’s premier integrated
resort and tourist destination attracting 19.6 million visitors in 2007. A
vibrant ‘City of Entertainment’ – it offers six hotels (including the
world’s largest hotel) with hotel rooms, exhilarating fun rides, superb
dining and shopping experiences, mega shows and international
convention facilities.
From the humble beginnings of a 38-room hotel, Lim developed his
Genting Group into a global empire spanning resorts, cruise ships,
plantations, power generation and oil and gas exploration and
production. The Genting Group is now known as one of Asia’s leading
and best-managed conglomerates. In the US, Lim bankrolled the
Mashantucket Pequot Tribe in Connecticut to create one of the world’s
largest casino complexes, Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Lim retired on 31 December 2003 at age 85, handing over the reigns to
his second son Kok Thay. After retiring, Lim spent most of his time at a
villa he built in Gohtong Jaya, a township at the foothills of his beloved
Genting Highlands.
A well-known philanthropist, he gave generously to the community
through the Genting Group and Yayasan Lim, a family foundation
established in 1978. He built the Chin Swee temple to honour the deity
who inspired him to complete the access road to the peak of Mount Ulu
Kali. For his contributions to the national economy and society, he was
bestowed the title of "Tan Sri" by HM the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1979
and an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurship from University of
Tunku Abdul Rahman in 2005.
Tan Sri (Dr.) Lim married Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua in 1944. They were
blessed with six children (three sons and three daughters) and 19
grandchildren.
He passed away peacefully on 23 October 2007 and was laid to rest on
29 October 2007, after a week-long wake attended by his beloved
family, friends, associates and dignitaries from all over the world.
His honesty, humility and wisdom will be deeply missed.
His remarkable legacy lives on.