SIBU: All that business tycoon, Tan Sri Datuk Tiong Su Kuok wanted for his birthday was that his grandchildren would not take the good life they had now for granted.
Tiong, who is the chief executive officer of SK Tiong Group of Companies, revealed his wish during his 77th birthday bash on Friday night.
He said he wanted them to be like him and to “work hard and be humble”.
Some 1,000 guests comprising relatives, friends, and business associates attended the dinner where he had also presented his “Bridge of Love” Education Help Fund 2019 totalling RM89,400.
Present were wife, Puan Sri Datin Wong Bak Hee, children and grandchildren.
Tiong started from a humble beginning; he began his business as a fishmonger with only RM3.40 in his pocket six decades ago.
His business grew by leaps and bounds and he is now the president of SK Tiong group of companies, chairman of CCK Consolidated Holdings Bhd and executive chairman of Nam Cheong Ltd.
Through hard work and perseverance, Tiong managed to diversify into fish and prawn cold storage, processing of aquatic products, organic tiger prawn farming, aquaculture, poultry processing, shipbuilding and ship leasing, property development as well as distributorship of food and beverages.
His cold storage business, CCK Consolidated Holding Bhd, was listed on Bursa Malaysia in 1997.
His retail chain and its CCK Fresh Mart flagship, specialising in selling aqua-products and frozen foods, can be found not only in Kuching and Miri but has also expanded to Sabah, Malaya as well as to Jakarta and Pontianak in Indonesia.
With success in this area, Tiong then ventured into shipbuilding by establishing Nam Cheong to move into the international shipbuilding arena. He partnered with China shipbuilders to construct offshore support vessels.
“There is nothing you can get easily. What you have now might be temporary only. Thus, you need to work hard and not take things for granted,” he said while addressing his children, grandchildren and guests.
Tiong told his children and grandchildren to appreciate people who had helped them in whatever ways.
“Do not remain where you are now but you must continue to upgrade yourself in this ever-evolving world,” he advised.
On the company, he attributed its success due to team work by its multi-racial staff.
“Everybody in the company has his or her responsibility. We need to continue to trust each other and build stronger relationship so that the company can soar to greater height,” he added.
