Rimbunan Hijau Group executive chairman Tiong Hiew King died this morning at age 91 following an extended illness. The Chinese-born businessman, who arrived in Malaysia as a teenager after leaving Fujian Province in 1934, built a commercial empire spanning timber, palm oil, hospitality, technology and finance across Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. He co-established the conglomerate with his brothers in 1975 after years of operating in hardware and construction materials.
Beyond business ventures, Tiong controlled multiple Malaysian Chinese-language publications, including Sin Chew Daily, Guang Ming Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press while founding newspapers in Brunei. Queen Elizabeth II awarded him Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2009 for contributions to Papua New Guinea's economic and philanthropic sectors. He served as the founding president for both the World Fuzhou Association and the World Zhang Clan Association.
The industrialist leaves behind his wife, five children and multiple descendants across subsequent generations.
Beyond business ventures, Tiong controlled multiple Malaysian Chinese-language publications, including Sin Chew Daily, Guang Ming Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press while founding newspapers in Brunei. Queen Elizabeth II awarded him Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2009 for contributions to Papua New Guinea's economic and philanthropic sectors. He served as the founding president for both the World Fuzhou Association and the World Zhang Clan Association.
The industrialist leaves behind his wife, five children and multiple descendants across subsequent generations.
