Sarawak timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King laid to rest

About 1,000 people arrived as early as 6am to his house at Jalan Brooke Drive in Sibu to pay their last respects.

The hearse carrying the remains of Tiong Hiew King leaving his house for the family’s memorial park in Sibu this morning. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Tiong Hiew King, founder and executive chairman of Rimbunan Hijau Group, who died on Tuesday, was laid to rest at his family’s memorial park in Sibu, Sarawak, today.

About 1,000 people, including family members, business associates and employees of the group, and media practitioners arrived as early as 6am to the timber and media tycoon’s residence at Jalan Brooke Drive to pay their last respects, Bernama reported.

At about 7.45am, the coffin carrying his remains was placed in a hearse and taken to the Xin Fu Yuan Methodist Church for the final prayers.

Tiong,  90, came from humble roots, born to a poor family in Sarawak in 1935. To help his family, he had to tap rubber when he was young.

He received his early education at Chung Cheng primary school in Sibu, then at Methodist secondary school and Sacred Heart secondary school.

In 1975, Tiong and his brothers founded Rimbunan Hijau. The company gradually expanded from hardware and construction materials into timber, oil palm, hotels, retail, media, information technology and finance.

Under his leadership, the conglomerate expanded across Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Russia, China and beyond.

According to Forbes, Tiong held forestry concessions in 16 countries, and the four daily newspapers under Media Chinese International comprise 70% of Malaysia’s Chinese newspaper business.

Tiong also controlled three other listed companies on Bursa Malaysia – Jaya Tiasa Holdings Bhd, Subur Tiasa Holdings Bhd, and Rimbunan Sawit Bhd.

He also owned New Zealand-based Oregon Group, which builds houses and hotels, harvests salmon and manufactures plastic containers.

Tiong was also the founding president of the World Fuzhou Association and the World Zhang Clan Association.

In 2009, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his contributions to Papua New Guinea’s business and charitable causes.

Forbes ranked him and his family the country’s 25th richest with a net worth estimated at US$820 million (RM3.4 billion). He is survived by his wife, Ngu Yii Chuo, and five children. - FMT