4 Singapore businessmen among Forbes Asia"s "Heroes of Philanthropy"

The local businessmen on the list of notable philanthropists include Valencia football club owner Peter Lim.

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File photo: Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim. (AFP/HO/Catherine Ong Associates)

SINGAPORE: Four Singapore businessmen, including Ho Bee Land Chairman Chua Thian Poh and Valencia football club owner Peter Lim, are on this year’s Forbes list of notable Asian philanthropists.

The other Singaporeans among Forbes Asia’s 48 “Heroes of Philanthropy” are Nippon Paint Singapore founder, Mr Goh Cheng Liang and Professor Saw Swee Hock, an expert on population and statistics.

Mr Chua Thian Poh, 65, was feted for his contributions to education. Forbes estimates Chua has donated at least US$10 million (S$12.5 million) towards college-level education in Singapore since 2008, focusing on developing entrepreneurs and community leaders.

Mr Peter Lim, 61, known as the “remisier king”, donated at least US$16 million over the past six years to sports and education causes.

Mr Goh Cheng Liang, 85, is more closely associated with medical research. His 20-year-old Goh Foundation gave US$40 million to Singapore’s National Cancer Centre in March for cancer research and to help set up a proton-beam treatment facility. It had previously donated US$10 million to the Centre and also has assisted education initiatives and other medical projects.

Prof Saw Swee Hock, 83, has given more than US$30 million to universities in Singapore, China, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. His largest reported contribution is US$24 million in 2011 to launch the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Professor Saw and his family made their money by investing in bungalows, in part with an inheritance from his businessman father-in-law, according to Forbes.

- CNA/kk

4 Singapore businessmen among Forbes Asia"s "Heroes of Philanthropy"