KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysians Datuk Vijay Eswaran of the Ql
Group of Companies, Berjaya Group''s Tan Sri Vincent Tan, IJM Corp founder Koon
Yew Yin and renowned architect Hijjas Kasturi were among 48 people named "Heroes
of Philanthropy" by Forbes Asia.
The list is compiled annually by Forbes with the aim of calling attention to
notable people and causes throughout the region.
Vijay, the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of the QI Group of Companies,
was selected for his extensive contribution amounting to millions of dollars to
various causes around the globe, including public health initiatives, education
and cultural programmes.
He operates his company based on the philosophy of RYTHM, an acronym for
Raise Yourself to Help Mankind, which he propagates among the employees of his
global business empire.
His QI Group is an e-commerce-based conglomerate with businesses that have
diversified into a variety of sectors that include retail, travel,
telecommunications, watches, luxury products, wellness, training, technology and
corporate investments.
In February, another Malaysian on the Forbes Asia list, Berjaya Corporation
Bhd Founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan, pledged to donate at least half of his wealth
to charity.
This follows his decision to join "The Giving Pledge" initiated by Bill
Gates, his wife Melinda and Warren Buffett.
Renowned architect Hijjas Kasturi, 74, and Angela Hijjas, 61, have sponsored
and hosted more than 100 artists, writers and performers since starting a
residency programme in 1994 at their traditional Malay home in a tropical garden
outside Kuala Lumpur.
The programme is partly funded by profits from a boutique hotel in George
Town, Penang, that they converted from a cluster of pre-war shophouses. The
restoration helped revive a derelict area and serves as a studio for artists.
Koon, 78, Co-Founder of IJM Corp, donates roughly $300,000 a year to various
causes. He also funds scholarships for needy students and has given to 80
students at Tunku Abdul Rahman University.
He had previously said that he learned the value of education in escaping
poverty after growing up in a family of 12.
The Malaysians were listed among other well-known Asians such as actors
Jackie Chan from Hong Kong and Vivek Oberoi from India, as well as Japanese
architect Tadao Ando.
The list annually features philanthropists who have not been highlighted by
Forbes Asia before.
-- BERNAMA
MR MAM VMD