Eco World boss gets honorary doctorate
NILAI: “Son, be an entrepreneur, be a tauke (boss), make something of yourself, and bring wealth to the family.”
Those words from his late father have been the foundation that shaped the life of Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, 59, who grew up in poverty to be the first university graduate in his family, and go on to become one of the country’s most notable property developers.
The Eco World Development Group Bhd chairman paid homage to his parents on a special day as he received an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurship from Inti International University.
For Liew, the first step to fulfilling his father’s wish was graduating from Universiti Malaya. In 1981, he started work as a bank officer before venturing into property development five years later.
He also remembered that his parents – a lorry driver and a rubber tapper – were very hardworking but remained poor.
“When my father told me to be an entrepreneur, in my mind Iasked: ‘How do Ibecome one?’
“Butbecause of my banking experience, Ilearned two things: how to write reports, and how to borrow money.
“So when a development project came along, I saw the chance to be a developer and entrepreneur,” Liew told the Inti class of 2017, staff and guests in his speech after being conferred the doctorate by the chancellorTan SriArshad Ayub yesterday .
Looking on proudly were his 85-year-old mother Ng Mee Ngo, his wife Puan Sri How Teng Te ng and their son Liew Tian Xiong.
The father of four is also recog- nised for his commitment to promoting patriotism and moderation through the #AnakAnakMalaysia campaign, organised in collaboration with Star Media Group Bhd to commemorateNational Dayand Malaysia Day.
“Entrepreneurs are made over time through experience and what you learn in society,” Liew told the students.
He added that being an entrepreneur is about taking risks, being able to redefine oneself and building a trusted team that can help one realise their goals.
Liew, who was instrumental in securing the coveted Battersea Power Station regeneration project in Britain in 2012, said his education in Universiti Malaya, where he obtained an economics degree, helped him see things in a different perspective.
“It gave me a good background. My parents cried when I graduated from UM because I was the first one from my family to graduate, and I was the first boy from my village to go to university.
“My parents, despite being poor, made sure I received my education,” said Liew, who hails from Plentong in Johor Baru.
Arshad, in his speech, said Liew’s contributions to the nation have been nothing short of “remarkable”.
“Tan Sri Liew’s conferment truly illustrates his service in the property development landscape, his commitment to the growth of the nation, both economically and socially, and his continuous belief in excellence, team spirit and commitment to drive community enrichment,” he said.
Some 1,070 students across Inti’s PhD, Master’s,Bachelor and diploma programmes will graduate over three days.