August 13, 2025 | 09:49 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Goh Cheng Liang, ranked by Forbes 2025 as Singapore’s richest person, passed away at the age of 98 on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. As the majority shareholder of Nippon Paint, he left an estimated wealth of US$13 billion, or around Rp209.70 trillion, according to Forbes.
“Passed away this morning with family members by his side,” the family said on Tuesday, as reported by Straits Times.
He is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. During his life, he enjoyed boating, fishing, fine dining, and traveling.
Profile of Goh Cheng Liang
Goh was born in Singapore and grew up in poverty in a River Valley shophouse with his parents, three sisters, and a brother. They rented a small room for USD 3 per month. During World War II, he was sent to Muar, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where he helped his brother-in-law sell fish, returning to Singapore in 1943.
He started his paint business in 1949 with Pigeon Brand and began distributing Nippon Paint products in 1955. In 1962, he partnered with the Japanese company to establish Nippon Paint Singapore.
In 1974, he founded Wuthelam Holdings, which grew into Wuthelam Group and became the largest shareholder of Nippon Paint by 2020, holding nearly 60 percent of the company’s shares.
Goh and his family also developed Liang Court, a property venture later sold, and he founded Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
Known for his philanthropy, Goh supported medical research, particularly in cancer treatment, funded scholarships for underprivileged students, contributed to welfare institutions, and financed infrastructure projects in his ancestral village in China.
In 1995, with support from the late President Wee Kim Wee, he established the Goh Foundation to structure his charitable activities, including the National Cancer Centre, children’s cancer research at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and initiatives with the Viva Foundation and National University Hospital.
A cancer survivor, he also supported rheumatology and immunology research through the ARiSE program at Singapore General Hospital, along with palliative care programs in collaboration with SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre.
“To family and friends, Mr. Goh was a humble and reserved person, known for his high sense of humor and zest for life, balanced by a strong determination to succeed,” his family said, as quoted by CNA.
Budi Fintobuna, President Commissioner of Nippon Paint Indonesia, who has known Goh since he was 20, recalled that Goh valued loyal, honest, and capable people to support his business.
“Under his guidance, I learned the importance of honesty, hard work, and frugality. Mr. Goh was very successful because he was frugal and never gave up,” Budi said.
Budi also recounted Goh’s frequent visits to Indonesia between 1970 and 1980, noting their shared love of the sea.
“Sometimes we spoke in English, but he also spoke to me in Malay just for fun,” he said.
In the early 1980s, Goh took over Nippon Paint Indonesia amid rising anti-Japanese sentiment. Budi described him as a risk-taker: when Goh liked a property, he would buy it immediately, warning, “If you take too long to decide, someone else will buy it.”
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