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Inspiring origin stories and more fun facts about Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow and more wealthy Malaysians on Forbes' billionaires list
The Forbes World's Billionaires List this year has put the spotlight on Malaysia's wealthiest men, from Tan Sri Robert Kuok to Mr D.I.Y. founder Ten Yu Yeh, one of the youngest Malaysians on the list.
ICYMI: Top 10 Malaysian Billionaires on Forbes' Richest in 2022
Here are some interesting facts you may not know about five of these high net-worth Malaysians from the low-key philanthropist billionaire Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary to Sunway Group's Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah.
Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow
Above Photo: Public Bank Group
Photo: Public Bank Group
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Before he founded Public Bank group at the age of 36, Teh was a manager at Maybank for six years and part of the team that led the bank’s branch network expansion. Before joining Maybank, Teh worked as a clerk in OCBC (Oversees Chinese Banking Corporation) in Singapore at the age of 20, earning a salary of just RM130 a month.
Related: How Asia's Billionaires are Using Their Wealth to Change the World for the Better
Tan Sri Robert Kuok
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At 98, Hong Kong-based Kuok is still the richest Malaysian. The Johor-born billionaire dubbed Asia's 'Sugar King' actually made his first big sugar deal via his company, Kuok Brothers, in 1958 with Japanese company Mitsui & Co. He would go on to secure another deal to buy sugar from Beijing upon learning that the Chinese government would soon export sugar to Malaysia around the same time.
Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai
Above Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai (Photo: Top Glove)
Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai (Photo: Top Glove)
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Lim founded one of the world’s largest producers of rubber gloves, Top Glove, together with his wife, Puan Sri Tong Siew Bee in 1991 using their entire savings of RM180,000.
A supporter of Taiwan-based Buddhist charity and humanitarian organisation Tzu Chi, Lim often participated in volunteering and fundraising activities for the organisation. He told The Star of his first volunteering experience where he spent two hours on the streets to collect donations. He ended up collecting only RM36.
"That frustration did not dampen my enthusiasm to carry out good and meaningful work," Lim said in the interview.
More: The Most Notable Asian Newcomers on the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2022
Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah
Above Cheah speaking at an event hosted by the Harvard Club of Malaysia (Photo: Jeffrey Cheah Foundation/Facebook)
Cheah speaking at an event hosted by the Harvard Club of Malaysia (Photo: Jeffrey Cheah Foundation/Facebook)
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Featured in Forbes list of Asia’s 2021 Heroes of Philanthropy, Sunway Group’s founder and executive chairman isn’t afraid to walk to the talk. Cheah founded the award-winning Sunway College in 1987 and insisted that all his three children enrol there in a clear vote of confidence in the institution’s quality.
In an interview with Forbes, Cheah revealed that he intends to donate a total of RM1 billion in grants in his lifetime.
More: Sunway International School's Stellar New Campus In Malaysia Opens In 2023
Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary
Above Photo: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia/Facebook)
Photo: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia/Facebook)
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Self-made billionaire and philanthropist Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary believes in making education accessible to future generations. Syed dropped out of school at the age of 15 to help support his impoverished family.
In his founder’s message at the Albukhary International University’s inaugural convocation ceremony last month, Syed encouraged students who had been given scholarships to pay forward the kindness to the next generation, sharing a quote from his mother: “Nothing is yours until you have given it away with all your heart in the hope that it will make someone’s life easier.”
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
