YTL Corp founder laid to rest
> Thousands join family to pay last respects to Yeoh
NILAI: Business tycoon and prominent philanthropist Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay was laid to rest at the Nilai Memorial Park here yesterday.
The 88-year-old founder of YTL Corporation Bhd passed away on Oct 18.
He leaves behind his wife Puan Sri Tan Kai Yong, seven children, 27 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
The cortege, which arrived at the memorial park at about 3.15pm for the burial ceremony, was ushered in with the song Amazing Grace.
Psalms were recited as the coffin was lowered into the grave.
Yeoh’s family knelt round the grave, each with a flower in hand, as the grave was blessed.
The family bowed three times at the grave at the end of the ceremony to pay their final respects.
Earlier, the cortege left the family residence in Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumpur at 1pm after a funeral service, followed by a funeral procession.
The eulogies were delivered by Yeoh’s eldest son Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, who now leads the diverse conglomerate.
Eulogies were also delivered by his grandchildren and close friend Datuk Lee Peng Hock.
The procession passed YTL Group’s landmark buildings in Sentul, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Bukit Bintang, where hundreds of employees, including construction workers, with banners stating “In memory of YTL”, lined the road to bid farewell to their founder.
Staff of JW Marriott and Starhill Gallery had also lined up outside the premises to bid their final farewell.
Yeoh founded YTL in 1955 as a construction company and it has since expanded into Malaysia’s largest conglomerate involving technology, hotels, utilities, construction and property management.
In March, Yeoh was ranked seventh in the latest Forbes’ Malaysia’s 50 richest list, with a net worth of US$2.1 billion (RM8.8 billion).