SINGAPORE: Goh Cheng Liang, the richest Singaporean according to Forbes’ annual list of global billionaires for this year, died at the age of 98 today.
The founder of the paint and coatings company Wuthelam Group “passed away this morning with family members by his side,” according to the Straits Times.
Goh held a majority stake in Japan’s Nippon Paint Holdings and had an estimated net worth of US$13 billion (RM58.5 billion), Forbes reported.
He grew up in a shophouse on River Valley Road with his parents and four siblings.
In 1949, Goh launched his Pigeon Brand paint business, which later developed into a partnership with Nippon Paint, the world’s fourth-largest paint manufacturer.
He established Wuthelam Holdings in 1974 and expanded it into a global conglomerate.
Wuthelam Group currently owns nearly 60 per cent of Nippon Paint Holdings.
The family’s other ventures included the former Liang Court and Mount Elizabeth Hospital, both of which Goh developed and later sold.
A dedicated philanthropist, Goh funded medical research, particularly in cancer treatment, as well as bursaries and scholarships for underprivileged students, and donated to various welfare agencies.
In 1995, with the help of the late Singapore President Wee Kim Wee, he set up the Goh Foundation to structure his philanthropic efforts.
The Foundation contributed to the establishment of the National Cancer Centre Singapore and its expansion to include the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre.
It also awarded grants supporting children’s cancer research at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the Viva Foundation, and the National University Hospital.
Goh, a cancer survivor himself, championed research into better treatments for rheumatological and immunological conditions through the ARiSE programme at Singapore General Hospital.
He also supported palliative care initiatives with the National Cancer Centre in collaboration with SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre.
Beyond Singapore, Goh funded roads, clean water supplies, sanitation systems, and several schools in Dawu Village, his ancestral home in Chaozhou, China.
He is survived by three children — Goh Hup Jin, Goh Chuen Jin, and Goh Chiat Jin — along with eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He loved spending time with his grandchildren and enjoyed boating, fishing, fine food, and travelling.
To family and friends, he was a humble and private man with a great sense of humour, according to the media release.
His eldest son, Goh Hup Jin, described his father as “a beacon of kindness and strength.”
“We are very fortunate to have had him show us how to be a good person – he taught us to live life with compassion and humility,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
