PM: Lim's passing a loss to nation

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IPOH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday extended his condolences to the family of the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong.

Despite his hectic schedule, Abdullah promised to find time to pay his last respects and visit the family.

He described the late Lim as a hardworking entrepreneur who had contributed immensely to the country's economy in various industries.

"He was a philanthropist, and his death is a loss to the country and society at large," Abdullah said.

"I believe his death is a loss not only to the nation but also to the business and entrepreneurial community in the country."

TAN SRI LIM GOH TONG (1918-2007):

1918 - Born in Anxi, Fujian Province, China

1937 - Arrived in Malaya at the age of 19

1944 - Married Lee Kim Hua, now Puan Sri Lee

1945 - Post WWII, ventured into second-hand machinery trading, then iron mining and construction

1963 - Hit on the idea of building the Genting Highlands casino resort while working on the Cameron hydro-electric dam. Initial idea was a 38-room hotel with basic tourist facilities

1965 - Established Genting Highlands Sdn Bhd on April 27 with Tan Sri Mohd Noah Omar. Started work on access road to Genting on Aug 18. Began applying to Pahang and Selangor governments for land

1969 - Foundation stone of the Highlands Hotel laid by then-prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. Applied to the government for casino licence

1971 - Completed access road. Faced bankruptcy at one point because construction of the road generated no income. Started operations in May.

1978 - Set up the family charitable foundation Yayasan Lim

1979 - Conferred the title of Tan Sri

1989 - Set up Resorts World Bhd to be listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange

1999 - Estimated to be worth US$2 billion (RM7.6 billion) by Forbes Magazine, after taking into account impact of the Asian financial crisis

2000 - Star Cruises listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; acquisition of Norwegian Cruise Line was completed

2002 - Built the world's then-largest hotel, the 3,300-room First World Hotel, which was opened by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then prime minister. The resort registered some 12 million visitors annually

2003 - Handed chairmanship of Genting group to his son, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay

2006 - Genting won bid to build Singapore's second integrated casino resort. The highland resort catered to more than 18 million visitors

2007 - Estimated to be Malaysia's third richest man, worth US$4.3 billion (RM14.6 billion) by Forbes. Transformed into the City of Entertainment, the crown jewel Genting Highlands Resort now has more than 10,000 rooms, more than 90 dining outlets, 80 retail outlets, convention facilities and indoor and outdoor theme parks