Lau Gek Poh Foundation

TIMBER tycoon Tan Sri Lau Gek Poh passed away of old age at 92 on 4th April 2008

Lau is the founder and chairman of Gek Poh (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, the controlling shareholder of Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd and Malaysian Mosaics Bhd.

Born in China, he settled in Sabah when he was 19 and after World War II, he formed the Hap Seng company which was primarily involved in the timber business.

He later became the largest exporter of round logs from Sabah, earning him the title "timber tycoon of Sabah".

Lau also diversified his business by holding dealerships in Mercedes-Benz vehicles and subsequently into property development and investment, fertilizer and general trading, financial services and building a vast plantation empire.

He is survived by Puan Sri Khoo Geuh Noi, three children, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

The remains was flew to Tawau, Sabah, on April 12 to lie in state at the Lau Gek Poh Foundation, Jalan Durahman, Mile 1 Tanjong Batu, Tawau, Sabah.

The Lau Gek Poh Foundation is a philanthropic foundation and registered charity. The Foundation was incorporated on 11 June 1991. Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Lau Gek Poh is the Founder and Chairman of the Foundation and Mr. David Park is a Trustee of the Foundation.

The Foundation was established to receive and administer funds for education, scientific and charitable purposes, all for public welfare. The objects of the Foundation are:-

1.    To foster, develop and improve education of all kinds consistent with the National Education Policy.
2.    To subscribe and to grant donations to local or national institutions or organizations
    approved by the Director-General of Inland Revenue, Malaysia.
3.    To organize, carry out and support schemes for the relief of human suffering, improvement of the standard of human life and the treatment of sickness and disease.
4.    To assist, aid and give relief to the poor and needy in particular widows and orphans,
victims of fire, floods, famine, war or calamity, and those in need of moral or social rehabilitation or welfare.

劉玉波基金目標:

培育、發展和改善各種與國家敎育系統步伐一致的敎育事業；

支持捐獻經我國內陸稅收局批准的地方和全國協會或團體；

組統、執行和支持有關人道支援，提高生活水平和治療貧病等計劃；

幫助救濟貧苦無依和有需要的人士，特別是孤兒寡婦、火災、水災、飢饉、戰禍和其他災禍的災民；

以及需要精神或社會康復輔導和福利的人士。

The Lau Gek Poh Foundation Contributes RM1 Million To The Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund

At the presentation ceremony held in Kota Kinabalu, the cheque was presented by Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Lau Gek Poh, Founder and Chairman of Gek Poh (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, the controlling shareholder of the Malaysian Mosaics Berhad and Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad. Also present was Mr. David Park Chairman and Group Chief Executive of the Malaysian Mosaics Berhad Group, and En. Md Salehuddin Othman, Group Editor of NSTP, who received the cheque on behalf of the NSTP Group.

Recognizing the plight and the scale of the Tsunami Disaster casualties, Tan Sri Lau Gek Poh expressed his sadness at the loss of life and physical destruction of property inflicted on those affected and extended his sympathy to the families of the injured and bereaved. Tan Sri Lau hoped this donation would provide some assistance in rebuilding the lives of those who have lost so much in this tragedy.

The Foundation has donated more than RM3.5 million over the last 6 years to various charitable organizations in Malaysia.