Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong’s Story of building Genting Highlands

Jan 27th, 2006 by Neo

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I bought My Story - Lim Goh Tong quite a while back from Popular bookstore, and have kept it on the book shelf unnoticed until recently when I finished reading Azizi Ali’s The Millionaire In Me. The book costed me RM28.00 only, relatively cheap compared to other books I guess.

My Story - Lim Goh Tong

This book is an autobiography of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, which gives us a rare glimpse into the mid of the man who built Genting Highlands into a world-class resort.

At the tender age of 16 years old, his father passed away and he was forced to take over his father’s petty trading business. There were all sorts of problems with the business, on some days he failed to make even a single sale. In 1937, the year the Japanese launched their war of aggression on China, he at 20 years old, bravely set off for Malaya with a small suitcase and 175 dollars (100 from his mother and 75 from his own savings).

In Malaya, he eventually went into iron mining; became a middleman for heavy machinery trading; and took on government contracts for development projects. You have correctly guessed that he had already made himself a fortune by then. However, in 1964 when he was a sub-contractor for part of the Cameron hydro-electric dam project in Cameron Highlands, an evening stroll hit him upon the idea of developing a mountaintop resort in Malaysia to cater to city dwellers seeking an escape from the tropical heat.

After 40 years, today his publicly-traded Genting holds the only license to operate a casino in Malaysia; his Star Cruises touts itself as the operator of the world’s “most modern and exciting world-class fleet.”

Pictures showing the magnificent cruise ship - Superstar Leo and Superstar Aries.

The story is an inspiring one, beginning with nothing to his name, he turned difficulties into opportunities, took much calculated risks and confounded sceptics through sheer foresight and perseverance.

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17 Responses to “Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong’s Story of building Genting Highlands”

on 27 Jan 2006 at 6:05 amelb

Genting Highlands? ‘World class’? Since when?
on 27 Jan 2006 at 7:28 pmFurkids in Hong Kong

Looks like an interesting read - thanks for the mini-review/recommendation.

His Star Cruises certainly qualifies as one of, if not already, the worldâ€™s â€œmost modern and exciting world-class fleet.â€

Later!
on 28 Jan 2006 at 3:27 amNine3nine4

I have read it, not all been told but nice book
dear jacky
Wishing you n your love one a Happy Chinese New Year “GONG XI FA CHAI”
on 28 Jan 2006 at 9:25 amlouyau-mike

Happy Chinese New Year to you Jacky!
on 28 Jan 2006 at 11:54 amJacky

elb, since they got some prestigious awards I guess. But I left the book in KL so, I have forgotten what awards they have won. (I am not in KL now, and is using a slow dial-up line).

Furkids, yes, agree with you. I really looking forward to have a chance to have my holiday on one of the cruise ship.

Nine3nine4, yes, a light reading book. Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Chai to you too.

louyau-mike, Happy Chinese New Year to you too.
on 28 Jan 2006 at 12:22 pmjellyfish

i’ve read the book. interesting and inpirational.

only then i came to know how the name ‘Yuin Ding’ is derived
on 24 Jul 2006 at 12:35 amBILLY

I am inspired by Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong very much. If I was as rich as him.. I’ll not build the casino because, gambling is bad… gambling means the unsatisfied losing money…
on 14 Aug 2006 at 10:07 pmng818

nice book!
on 06 Dec 2006 at 11:08 pmZhengXin85

it gives us a lot of inspiration as we want to become a businessman. The story told us how Mr. lim work hard for his entire life to realise his own dream. He success to realise his own dream but his previous own dream is not for himself but is for the “world happanies”.
on 04 Jan 2007 at 11:55 amdhiya

he is one of billionaire in malaysia, how can i be like him?
on 15 Jan 2007 at 11:18 pmjazzi.

he’s de man !!..without him,we won’t be entertained >
on 20 Jun 2007 at 11:46 pmcuteguy

I have browsed it in Kinokuniya today and it cost about SGD $16.90, found it a pelanduk publication some Malaysian publisher, as I’m a Malaysian and I go back malaysia frequently I’m going to get it in malaysia. A nice written book, with foreword by PM Abdullah and Dr. Mahathir. Tan Sri Lim is now #204 in Forbes list 2007.
on 23 Sep 2007 at 11:22 pmtroubling youngster

Is he really such a perfect person? without any weaknesses?
on 24 Oct 2007 at 2:41 pmVindictusDame

I don’t think he is perfect, ’cause no one is. But we cannot deny that he is a great man despite whatever flaws he might have possessed. R.I.P Tan Sri.
on 25 Oct 2007 at 11:33 pmwatermelonpig

best..!!!he’s my idol..never forget him
on 06 Nov 2007 at 1:42 amange

Tan sri Lim is one of the greatest history ever told, with his strive he turn the impossible to the possible opportunity. He change the negativity to real such a positive impact.

May God be with you, Tan Sri Lim and condolence to your family.
on 23 Jan 2008 at 4:08 pmfuture_millionaire

i wanna be strong like him……
i wanna be a success businesswomen like him!!!!!
caiyuk!!!!!!

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