Cover Tan Sri G Gnanalingam is remembered for his vision, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit
Tan Sri G Gnanalingam is remembered for his vision, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit
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The self-made billionaire was a logistics industry leader who founded one of the world’s top ports.
The founder and executive chairman of Westports Holdings Bhd Tan Sri G Gnanalingam, 78, has passed away.
“It is with deep sorrow that Westports announces the demise of our beloved executive chairman, Tan Sri Gnanalingam Gunanath Lingam, who passed away peacefully today, at the age of 78,” the group announced in a stock exchange filing on Bursa Malaysia.
“He touched our lives and the community with his compassion, generosity and kindness. His vision and stewardship of the company have built and transformed Westports and Port Klang into the preeminent gateway port in Malaysia and one of the transhipment hubs in Southeast Asia,” said Westports.
Gnanalingam played a pivotal role in establishing Westports Malaysia as one of the world's premier ports and a leader in the global cargo industry. In 1994, he secured the concession to operate a port terminal as part of the government's privatisation project, surprising many due to his lack of experience in the seaport business.
Despite the initial scepticism, he successfully launched the port on Pulau Indah two years later in 1996, equipped with 10 cranes. His leadership steered Westports through various challenges, including the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, and led the company to remarkable growth.
Today, Westports is a significant player in the Malaysian market, boasting a market capitalisation of RM12.04 billion and a container handling capacity exceeding 13.7 million twenty foot equivalent units. In terms of global rankings, Westports has risen to become the 12th largest port in the world regarding container traffic, standing among esteemed ports such as Shanghai, Singapore, Busan, Jebel Ali, and Rotterdam.
Although Gnanalingam is widely recognised for his contributions to the port industry, he began his career in 1968 as a sales representative with the British American Tobacco group. In 1988, he founded G-Team Consultants Sdn Bhd, a marketing consultancy that served as the corporate consultant for Radio Television Malaysia's marketing operations from 1988 to 2000.
He was a respected member of the Tatler community, recognised as Asia's Most Influential in 2022.
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Sim Wie Boon is the general manager of Tatler Malaysia. Previously the print and digital editor, Sim hails from the land of the hornbills, Sarawak. Sim is now based in Kuala Lumpur and brings more than a decade of experience in the media industry as a journalist and broadcast producer.
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