Mention the name Uncle Lim and people will recall the story of late Lim Goh Tong of Genting Highland. Well, you can say that he brought Las Vegas into Malaysia. For most people, he is remembered for bringing the family, from the age of 2 to the age of 80 the joy at cloud city. City of Entertainment, the Genting group claimed.
I’ve seen people go there every day and sometimes twice a day! Gambling is one reason. Another reason was the cool environment it offered to the visitors at the peak; away from the hot weather in Kuala Lumpur. Frankly speaking, my visits to Genting Highland can be counted by two hands even when I stay near to Karak Highway and also near to the bus station at Taman Melati LRT Terminal!
This time, I went there with my girlfriend just to see the development it has made since the last time I went there back in my university days for my society induction program. As an engineer, one has to look up on Uncle Lim. Actually, Lim Goh Tong is a contractor. The way he masterminded the development of Genting Highland on an uncharted terrain was solely due to his sheer determination and hard work.
I’ve made a presentation during my course on his work before. How one snaps the opportunity when given by the government and how to fight for something when others laugh off the idea. Uncle Lim is respected by most people because of his humility. He started without anything and ended up with fortune that can last hundred generations (judging from my standard of living).
I read his book, “My Story” which depicts his real life story from his beginning till the day he retired and passed on the baton to his son. There is one chapter inside the book which talks about the case when his Genting business is starting to show some promises, his needs to pay the annual government tax imposed on his resort. I really like the part when he headed to the Parliament to request his resort being categorized as pioneer business thus being exempted from tax.
His wish was granted that his resort to be delayed the taxation process but he proposed to the government to extend further the dateline. He promised to pay a higher tax at the end of the grace period by using the money from those exempted years channeled back into his resort. Mind you that Uncle Lim does not have proper education and he speaks little English and Bahasa. You need to be thick faced enough to put up this fight.
After reading this story, I came to know that his vision of Genting Highlands derived from his dream one afternoon after taking a nap in a cave during the construction process. Well, looks like his dream certainly comes true just like this saying goes:
“Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.”
Alice Walker
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