Lim Kok Wing

Lim Kok Wing (Chinese: 林國榮; 1945 – 1 June 2021) was a Malaysian businessman, philanthropist, educator, and illustrator. He was the founding president of the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato Sri Lim Kok Wing PMN PSM PNBS DPMS
Born	1945 (1945) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Died	1 June 2021(2021-06-01) (aged 75–76)
Occupation(s)	Business magnate, philanthropist, educator, illustrator

Lim Kok Wing
Traditional Chinese	林國榮
Simplified Chinese	林国荣
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lín Guóróng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Lam4 Gwok3 Wing4 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Lîm Kok-êng

Early life

Lim was born in 1945 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He attended Methodist Boys School and Cochrane Road Secondary School.^[1]

Career

The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, photographed in December 2007.

In 1975, at age 29, Lim established advertising firm Wings Creative Consultants.^[1] In 1992, he founded the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Cyberjaya.^[2] He also served as its president. In July 2007, following the establishment of Limkokwing University Botswana, Lim addressed the country's Parliament. The same year, Limkokwing University London was founded.^[1] In June 2020, the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology commissioned a billboard depicting Lim as "King of Africa," flanked by a cheetah and surrounded by African students;^[3][4] it was removed after receiving negative online responses.^[5]

Death

Lim died on 1 June 2021, aged 75.^[6] He had been hospitalised the previous week after falling at home.^[7] Local newspaper The Star described him as "one of the most prominent figures in the higher education sector",^[8] while the Unesco Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) called Lim a "great figure in education and philanthropy".^[9] Mahathir Mohamad remarked that Lim was an "avid supporter of the Malaysian vision", whereas Najib Razak noted that he "transformed the lives of many".^[10]

Recognition

Lim received several awards for both his entrepreneurship and philanthropy. In 2006, he was named CEO of the Year by the Malaysia Canada Business Council. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary professorship by the Moscow Academy of the State and Municipal Management.^[11]