KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Sarawak timber and media tycoon Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King passed away today aged 90.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, Media Chinese International Ltd said Tiong, a substantial shareholder and honorary chairman of the company, passed away peacefully. He was also the executive chairman of Rimbunan Hijau Group.
According to the Rimbunan Hijau Group’s website, Tiong was born in Sarawak in 1935 and received his early education at the Chung Cheng Primary School in Sibu, followed by Methodist High School and Sacred Heart High School.
He began his career at his uncle’s timber company, laying a solid foundation for his future in the timber industry. In 1975, he founded Rimbunan Hijau Group together with several of his brothers.
Over the years, the group built a strong reputation and grew into a multinational corporation.
Apart from timber exports and processing, the group diversified into media and publishing, agriculture, including oil palm plantations and mills, oil and gas, mining, aquaculture, reforestation, finance, information technology, trading, and property development.
In 2010, Tiong received the Malaysia Business Leadership Award’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his entrepreneurial contributions to the nation.
In Malaysia, there are four publicly listed companies under the group: Subur Tiasa Holdings Bhd, Jaya Tiasa Holdings Bhd, Rimbunan Sawit Bhd, and Media Chinese International Ltd.
According to Forbes, Tiong had an estimated net worth of US$820 million (RM3.39 billion), ranking 25th on the 2025 Malaysia’s 50 Richest list.
