By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 11: Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King, founder and chairman Sarawak timber firm Rimbunan Hijau Group, has passed away, Sin Chew Daily reported.
According to the report, Tiong passed away at 11am this morning at the age of 95.
Born in 1934 and raised in Sibu, Tiong was the chairman of Media Chinese International Ltd, which includes Sin Chew Media Corporation.
Tiong established Rimbunan Hijau in 1975, leading it to grow into one of Malaysia’s largest conglomerates with interests spanning multiple sectors. The group includes four publicly listed companies: Subur Tiasa Holdings Bhd, Jaya Tiasa Holdings Bhd, Rimbunan Sawit Berhad, and Media Chinese International Ltd.
Beyond timber, Tiong’s business interests extended to palm oil, telecommunications, and other global ventures. He and his family were ranked the 25th richest in Malaysia in 2025 by Forbes.
In 2009, Tiong was conferred the title of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by the late Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of his contributions to the business community, society, and charitable organisations in Papua New Guinea. – DayakDaily
