Lau Gek Poh Foundation

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

Born in China, he settled in Sabah when he was 19. 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.

馬來西亞劉玉波基金會大廈
Lau Gek Poh Foundation Building
Tawau, Malaysia
Jalan Durahman, Mile 1 Tanjong Batu, Tawau, Sabah.

The Lau Gek Poh Foundation building officially opened on 18 August 2000 by Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Lau Gek Poh. The building cost Rm 5 Millions.

The Lau Gek Poh Foundation is a registered philanthropic foundation. The Foundation was incorporated on 11 June 1991. Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Lau Gek Poh (b. 1917 - 4 April 2008)
is the Founder 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.

1	To provide free and subsidized education to the less privileged.
2	To support well documented, new entrepreneurial ideas and initiatives, which may be needing further research and development funding.
3	To support and undertake research work into the most suitable management approaches in a multi-racial society.
4	To support and provide cultural input to the society at a high moral level.

Effective January 1999 Lau Gek Poh Foundation assumed principal sponsorship of Humana Child Aid Society Sabah, a charitable organization which provides schooling in outlying areas in Sabah to children who would otherwise be deprived of education. Humana presently has 59 schools with a total of 3,000 children.

Borneo Child Aid Society/Humana received a generous and important Donation From Lau Gek Poh Foundation of RM 100,000 in 2006. Our Sincere Thanks to Hap Seng through Managing Director Mr. Edward Lee and the Lau Gek Poh Foundation for the generous Donation.

http://www.borneochildaid.org/Timeline2.html

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.

The contribution was channeled to the Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund managed by the NSTP Group’s New Straits Times and Berita Harian and associate companies TV3 and 8TV with support from Astro.

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Lau Gek Poh began business life in Sabah before the Pacific War as a humble migrant from China. Through sheer determination, toil and hard work, he succeeded in his business endeavors, creating the substantial business enterprise of the Gek Poh Group.

Over the years, Tan Sri Lau has donated generously to many charitable causes, for example, schools, colleges, homes for the aged and handicapped, associations and places of worship.

The Panglima Setia Mahkota award, which carries the title “Tan Sri” was bestowed by His Majesty Yang Di Pertuan Agong Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah on the occasion of the King’s birthday on 3 June 2000, in recognition of his magnanimous contribution to the nation.

Sabah’s Chief Minister, YAB Datuk Musa Aman, also presented him with the Diamond Award on 31 May 2003 for his many valuable contributions to society.

The Malaysian Mosaics and Hap Seng Consolidated Group are well diversified public companies involved in tile manufacturing, plantations, property ownership and development, automotive retailing, credit financing, fertilizer distribution, quarry and building materials distribution. A wholly owned subsidiary, Si Khiong Star Sdn Bhd, located at Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, was only recently appointed an authorized dealer for Mercedes-Benz passengers cars in the Klang Valley.

April 12, 2010 11:35:05 PM INDEX : Who Chinese