{{Short description|Malaysian business magnate (1945–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox person |honorific_prefix = Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato' Sri |name = Lim Kok Wing | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=MYS|size=100%|PSM|SSAP|DGSM|PNBS|DHMS|DPMS|JSM|AMN}} |image = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date|1945|10|21|df=y}} |birth_place = Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, British Military Administration of Malaya |death_date = {{death date and age|2021|06|01|1945|10|21|df=y}} |death_place = |nationality = |occupation = Business magnate, philanthropist, educator, illustrator |alma_mater = }} {{Infobox Chinese|s=林国荣|t={{linktext|林|國|榮}}|p=Lín Guóróng|poj=Lîm Kok-êng|j= Lam<sup>4</sup> Gwok<sup>3</sup> Wing<sup>4</sup>}} '''Lim Kok Wing''' ({{lang-zh|t=林國榮}}; 1945{{spaced ndash}}1 June 2021) was a Malaysian businessman, philanthropist, educator, and illustrator. He was the founding president of the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
==Early life== Lim was born on 21 October 1945 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He attended Methodist Boys School and Cochrane Road Secondary School.{{Sfn|Wong|2012|p=640}}
==Career== [[File:Limkokwing 2115370038 04337c1d65.jpg|thumb|The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, photographed in December 2007.]] In 1975, at age 29, Lim established advertising firm Wings Creative Consultants.{{Sfn|Wong|2012|p=640}} In 1992, he founded the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Cyberjaya.{{Sfn|Wong|2012|p=639}} He also served as its president. In July 2007, following the establishment of Limkokwing University Botswana, Lim addressed the country's Parliament. The same year, Limkokwing University London was founded.{{Sfn|Wong|2012|p=640}} In June 2020, the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology commissioned a billboard depicting Lim as "King of Africa," flanked by a cheetah and surrounded by African students;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2020/06/10/malaysians-demand-removal-of-dehumanising-billboard-portraying-lim-kok-wing/1874158|title=Malaysians demand removal of 'dehumanising' billboard portraying Lim Kok Wing as 'King of Africa'|first=Mei Zi|last=Tan|date=10 June 2022|newspaper=Malay Mail|access-date=6 September 2022|archive-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612165047/https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2020/06/10/malaysians-demand-removal-of-dehumanising-billboard-portraying-lim-kok-wing/1874158|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3089808/king-africa-billboard-sparks-racism-claims-university|title='King of Africa' billboard sparks racism claims at university started by Chinese-Malaysian|date=20 June 2020|newspaper=South China Morning Post|first=Tashny|last=Sukumaran|access-date=6 September 2022|archive-date=6 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906080616/https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3089808/king-africa-billboard-sparks-racism-claims-university|url-status=live}}</ref> it was removed after receiving negative online responses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.asiaone.com/malaysia/angry-netizens-petition-remove-billboard-portraying-lim-kok-wing-king-africa|title=Angry netizens petition to remove billboard portraying Lim Kok Wing as 'King of Africa'|newspaper=AsiaOne|last=Moey|first=Melina|date=12 June 2020|access-date=6 September 2022|archive-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520073849/https://www.asiaone.com/malaysia/angry-netizens-petition-remove-billboard-portraying-lim-kok-wing-king-africa|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Death== Lim died on 1 June 2021, aged 75.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/694958/lim-kok-wing-dies-75|title=Lim Kok Wing dies at 75|first=Mohamed|last=Basyir|date=1 June 2021|newspaper=New Straits Times|access-date=6 September 2022|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603152326/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/694958/lim-kok-wing-dies-75|url-status=live}}</ref> He had been hospitalised the previous week after falling at home.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/true-or-not/2021/05/25/lim-kok-wing-alive-recuperating-at-home-after-suffering-from-fall|newspaper=The Star|title=Lim Kok Wing recuperating after suffering from fall|date=25 May 2021|access-date=6 September 2022|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609004824/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/true-or-not/2021/05/25/lim-kok-wing-alive-recuperating-at-home-after-suffering-from-fall|url-status=live}}</ref> Local newspaper ''The Star'' described him as "one of the most prominent figures in the higher education sector",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/02/tributes-and-condolences-pour-in-for-lim-kok-wing|title=Tributes and condolences pour in for Lim Kok Wing|date=2 June 2021|newspaper=The Star|first1=Rebecca|last1=Rajaendram|first2=Sandhya|last2=Menon|access-date=6 September 2022|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607214954/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/02/tributes-and-condolences-pour-in-for-lim-kok-wing|url-status=live}}</ref> while the Unesco Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) called Lim a "great figure in education and philanthropy".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/03/unesco039s-itte-saddened-shocked-by-lim-kok-wing039s-death|title=Unesco's ITTE saddened, shocked by Lim Kok Wing's death|first=Sandhya|last=Menon|newspaper=The Star|date=3 June 2021|access-date=6 September 2022|archive-date=16 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616052156/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/03/unesco039s-itte-saddened-shocked-by-lim-kok-wing039s-death|url-status=live}}</ref> Mahathir Mohamad remarked that Lim was an "avid supporter of the Malaysian vision", whereas Najib Razak noted that he "transformed the lives of many".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3B0MJpPKtE|title=Tan Sri Dato Sri Paduka Dr. Limkokwing: Tributes from Global Leaders|publisher=Limkokwing University|date=1 November 2021|accessdate=6 September 2022|archive-date=27 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127035038/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3B0MJpPKtE|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Recognition== Lim received several awards for both his entrepreneurship and philanthropy. In 2006, he was named CEO of the Year by the Malaysia Canada Business Council. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary professorship by the Moscow Academy of the State and Municipal Management.{{Sfn|Wong|2012|p=642}}
== Honours == * {{Flag|Malaysia}} : ** 50px Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – '''Tan Sri''' (1995)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.istiadat.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1995.pdf|title=Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1995|website=www.istiadat.gov.my}}</ref> ** 50px Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (JSM) (1989)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.istiadat.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1989.pdf|title=Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1989|website=www.istiadat.gov.my}}</ref> ** 50px Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1982)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.istiadat.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1982.pdf|title=Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1982|website=www.istiadat.gov.my}}</ref> * {{Flag|Kedah}} : ** 50px Knight Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (DHMS) – '''Dato' Paduka''' (2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://govdocs.sinarproject.org/documents/state-governments/kedah/government-of-kedah-darul-aman-gazette/kdhgn09-01-y2012.pdf|title=SENARAI DARJAH KEHORMATAN SEMPENA ULANG TAHUN HARI KEPUTERAAN KEBAWAH DULI YANG MAHA MULIA TUANKU SULTAN NEGERI KEDAH DARUL AMAN TAHUN 2012|language=ms|publisher=Warta Kerajaan Negeri Kedah}}</ref> * {{Flag|Malacca}} : ** 50px Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – '''Datuk Seri''' (2016) * {{Flag|Pahang}} : ** 50px Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – '''Dato' Sri''' (2009) * {{Flag|Sarawak}} : ** 50px Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – '''Dato Sri''' (2013) * {{Flag|Selangor}} : ** 50px Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – '''Dato''''
==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book|title=Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume I & II|editor=Leo Suryadinata|pages=639–642|chapter=Lim Kok Wing|first=Seet Leng Mei|last=Wong|year=2012|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|isbn=9789814345217}} {{refend}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.limkokwing.com/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lim, Kok Wing}} Category:1945 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Heads of universities and colleges in Asia Category:Malaysian educators Category:Malaysian illustrators Category:Malaysian philanthropists Category:Businesspeople from Kuala Lumpur Category:Recipients of the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo Category:Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor Category:Knights Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak Category:Companions of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Category:Members of the Order of the Defender of the Realm