Journey of Lim Goh Tong

 

Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong

Lim Goh Tong was a wealthy Chinese businessman Malaysia stand out. He was known to his vision and courage in turning Genting Highlands from the hilltop that has not been explored in one of the most successful casino resorts in the world. He was the richest man in Malaysia with a net worth of US $ 4.2billion. He was an entrepreneur who never gave up because she often said "if we are confident with our decision, we cannot be bothered by ridicule or criticism."

Traits that enable Lim Goh Tong successful

Failure is an option

Failure is an option, but fear not. Nobody wants to fail, but failure to do so cannot be avoided on your way to success. George Bernard Shaw said: A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. So, if you never fail then it may mean that you do nothing. Fail will show that you actually do something instead of just sitting in your comfort zone. Each entrepreneur is a risk taker, they were all failures including growth of entrepreneurs I want to introduce, he is Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong.

This one example is the story of Lim Goh Tong in his wake Genting Resort. When he told his plans to his friend and invite them to invest in the plan, almost all of them gaped in disbelief. There is also a telling him directly that he made. Many linking him with a silly old man saying that trying to move a mountain with a shovel spade, but Lim refused all these negativities and go ahead with its plans strongly. He assembled a team to explore the mountains and surrounding area. They gathered a variety of data about the topography, drainage, soil conditions and other relevant aspects of the region. These are very useful for Lim in developing plans for the resort.

There is a big challenge for Lim in the application for the project because the mountain straddles the border between the states of Pahang and Selangor. He began by placing a request made to the State Government of Pahang and they immediately passed his application on the recommendation of our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Selangor Government but only to give it on lease for 99 years to Lim. He went to see Datuk Harun, who is also the Chief Minister of Selangor and explained to him. Presentation lastly Datuk Lim is confident in recommending to the State which granted his request.

After getting approval from federal and state government, Lim started the project in the face of tremendous task. Among the problems that are building roads to the top of the hill, water and electricity supply. Lim managed to build access roads to the summit in the last three years when it is expected to be a period of fifteen years by the Government. During construction, Lim survived a close brush with death six. Meanwhile, Lim had to administer another major project in Kelantan, Irrigation Scheme prevention of crime at the same time. It stretched to the limits of physical endurance that he had to shuttle between Kuala Lumpur and Sabah and her work without leave. To supply drinking water from the outside to the top of the mountain would be technically difficult and financially ruinous and Lim is important to be self-sufficient in water supply. He built a water collection system to collect water, have their own water treatment system and water supply systems of their own. In addition, the National Electricity Board has rejected their application for bulk supply in the 1970s because the resort is about 20 km from NEB grid system and I will be expensive and difficult to install cables on terrain inaccessible mountain tops. So they have to find their own solution that they decided to carry out the project personally to connect to the grid system Genting Resort NEB. Total project costs including the cost of construction pylons and substations and power transmission equipment, was more than RM20 million.

Although there are many obstacles along the way to the top of Genting Highland Lim but he never felt disappointed and shy away. In the end, he does it and the one who reveals himself that he is not a stupid man.

Proactive

How to proactively create or control of the situation by causing something to happen rather than reacting to it after it has occurred. Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong really is an entrepreneur who has proactive features. He would plan everything before he started and will not miss any opportunity in front of him.

One example that shows Lim is an entrepreneur who is proactive when our Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman made his first trip to Genting Highlands. In his speech, he said, to help accelerate the development of Genting Highland, the Government will consider promoting the application of Genting to operate a casino. Lim was decided immediately to upgrade the proposed Highlands Hotel of 33 rooms to 200 rooms. After that, he was planning to visit Macau casinos research and discussions with potential partners. After returning from Macau Lim submitting his application for a casino license to the Government. Remarkably, the application was approved on the evening later and Lim were asked to collect the letter of approval.

Another example that shows he is an proactive entrepreneur, he is trying to be proactive on the water and electricity supply Genting. Because Genting Resort on the top of the 1800 meter mountain, to supply water and electricity from outside sources would be technically difficult and complex, so they had to meet their own demand by themselves. He has formed a team to explore the mountains and surrounding area. During the expedition, they have gathered a variety of data about the topography, drainage, soil conditions and other aspects related to the region. With the help of data, he identified areas of potential supply and they have found an excellent source of water supply. After that, he built a water collection system to collect water, have their own water treatment system and water supply system of their own to ensure continuous water supply in Gaza. In addition, the National Electricity Board has rejected their application for bulk supply in the 1970s because the resort is about 20 km from NEB grid system and I will be expensive and difficult to install cables on terrain inaccessible mountain tops. So they have to find their own solution that they decided to carry out the project personally to connect to the grid system Genting Resort NEB. Total project costs including the cost of construction pylons and substations and power transmission equipment, was more than RM20 million. To ensure uninterrupted supply, they are forced to spend large sums on maintenance and upgrading their own power generation facilities as a backup system.

Moreover, fire safety is a paramount concern Genting Resort. Lim has set up their own fire brigade unit. Work on fire station equipped with five levels of fire alarm systems and fire fighting facility was completed in 1982. Lim also donated two fire engines Germany and the mountain areas of special fire-fighting equipment worth a total of RM8.2 million to the fire station in Gaza Resort, making it one of the best in Malaysia. In addition, there is also a 1.6-acre man-made lake was dug at the resort to serve the dual purpose of providing a place for boating and serve as a reservoir for firefighting. From all evidence we know that Lim Goh Tong is proactive.

Team Oriented

Lim Goh Tong shows the team oriented in action development of Genting. At the beginning of Lim Goh Tong organized a team of 20 people exploring the mountain, field surveys were carried up the hill, stayed nine days and eight nights in the mountains. Search on the the mountain terrain after officially put into development. On April 27, 1965, Lim Goh Tong established Genting Highlands Sdn. He led a team of technicians and workers to start work, the government later agreed to build a telecommunications tower halfway up the mountain for better reception but with the condition of the road was completed in three years and promised to provide subsidies of RM 900,000. Since he has to complete it quickly, he made the construction team to work in two shifts around the clock, seven days a week. Here is Lim Goh Tong said, and showed good distribution of work.

"Since I was committing myself to the time of completion of the project which half of the original target, I consider that my coaching team will have to work in two shifts around the clock, seven days a week. Sucking intensive pace of work is nothing unusual nowadays, but back in the 1960s it was rare. I divided the workforce into two teams: one to carry out survey work in front, the other to do the felling of trees, leveling and construction of roads back from the foot of the hill at Mile 20 Kuala Lumpur-old Bentong Road "(with My Story Lim Goh Tong).

On August 8, 1965, he began to build the road to the summit of Gunung Ulu Kali through a dense tropical rainforest and rugged mountainous region. He devoted all the time, money and resources, even risking his life several times to complete this important access road in three years, rather than the original target of six years. Fortunately they meet the deadline and received the promised subsidy of RM 900,000, a huge sum at the time and a great help to them. Since the establishment of a good team so, his work can be completed earlier than expected.

Networked

The brief meaning of networked is interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts. Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong is networked which ensure or enable him receive help and encouragement from Malaysian Government to turning a jungle-covered mountain into a top tourist resort. There are some evidence to show Goh Tong is networked.

First, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong owe a debt of gratitude to our first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman which giving him the opportunity to embark on his venture. Developing Genting Highlands is a formidable task. Tunku confidence in Goh Tong boosted him to be courage and determination to fight against all obstacles. Furthermore, Tunku enabled Goh Tong to play the role. The wish to develop Gunung Ulu Kali as a highland resort had been in the Tunku’s heart. Goh Tong success in completing the gruelling task also means the fulfilment of the Tunku’s wish. 

Moreover, Malaysia’s second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak also gave Goh Tong solid support and encouragement. After his visit to Genting Highlands, Tun Razak had proposed a six-year pioneer status for every highland resort business, a one-year extension of the original five years. This brought Genting Highlands RM8 million in tax savings, which Goh tong reinvested into development work. Besides that, Tun Hussien award Goh tong Tan Sri-Ship award because of their contribution to the country’s tourism industry.

Next, Malaysian’s fourth Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad has shown great interest in the development of Genting Highland . Dr Mahathir give Goh Tong a valuable advice and publicly expressed support for Genting which will help Genting Highland continue to grow. In Dr Mahathir speech as guest of honour at Genting’s 25^th anniversary on 11 august 1990, Goh Tong is honoured by Dr Mahathir ‘s words. Goh Tong also thankful for his able leadership which has brought political and social stability and burgeoning economic.

Lastly, Goh Tong also get support from friends which is Tan Sri Haji Mohd Noah. 1960s were tumultuous years for Malaysia, because of the Indonesia Confrontation and the breakaway of Singapore from Malaysia. Against a backdrop of political turmoil, Goh Tong embarked on the arduous task of developing Genting Highland. At a time when Goh Tong was cold-shouldered by many friends, Tan Sri Haji Noah stood by me steadfastly. Without his staunch support all the way, I doubt if I could have succeeded in my undertakings.

From the evidence above we know that the traits of networked help and enable Goh Tong to become a very successful enterepreneur which is highly need and applied to operate the business.

Open Risk Taker

Definition of open risk taker is an individual or business that tends to behave in a way that can potentially cause physical harm or financial loss, but might also present an opportunity for a rewarding outcome.

In 1963, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong was working in Cameron Highlands, he has an idea to build a highland resort for everyone to enjoy the cool mountain air. After that, he returned to Kuala Lumpur and manage to search a mountain which near Kuala Lumpur. He identified GunungUlu Kali which between the states of Selangor and Pahang.Although many peoplethink that his idea as an impossible dream or project but he still felt excited and manage to take the risk develop a mountain resort.

He did not give up his dream but keep going on. He gathered a team to do some research and exploremountain surrounding. In 1965, he began built the road to from the foothills to the peak of GunungUlu Kali through the tropical rainforest. Even though the process built access road to the peak of the mount was very tough, but he did not quit from his dream, he still believed that a tourist resort on the mount was possible. 

Finally, he completed this access road within three years, more faster than the original plan six-year target. He spent all his savings, time and resources into turning GunungUlu kali to Genting Highlands which is a tourist resort. He not only needed to build the access road but also  todevelop Genting Highlands which include hotels, entertainment centre and the golf course. 

In 1969, the government approved the first casino license inGenting. He knew maybe he will lose all his money and time on developing Genting but he kept on his development. From this, clearly shows that Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong is an open risk taker.

Visionary

From Oxford Dictionary, visionary meaning is thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom. in 2004, Lim Goh Tong make a visionary decision which is let his son Lim Kok Thay take over his businesses, Genting Group. Lim Goh Tong know that his son Lim Kok Thay is a outstanding businessman. Lim Kok Thay is a successful entrepreneur in cruise industry. In 1990s, Lim Kok Thay selling off the hotels and casinos in Australia and the Bahamas. Then Lim Kok Thay invest in the cruise industry. When Lim Goh Tong first acquaintance with this industry, he also consider this industry is potential and can bring the more opportunity to get profit. So, Lim Goh Tong gave full suppor to Lim Kok Thay to invest in the cruise industry. After several years of efforts, Lim Kok Thay become a successful entrepreneur in cruise industry. And Lim Kok Thay’s cruise company is own most large cruise compare with other cruise company in Malaysia.

From this, Lim Goh Tong confirmed his son Lim Kok Thay is very talent and suitable in business industry. So, in 31 December 2003, Lim Goh Tong decide hand over the chairmanship of the Genting Group of companies and pass to Lim Kok Thay take over to continue his businesses.

Nowadays, Genting Highland is prosperity and continue to grow or expansion due to leadership of Lim Kok Thay. This obviously shows that the of decision Lim Goh Tong make is visionary.