Headline Date MediaTitle Section Journalist Frequency Circ / Read
Malaysians make Forbes Asias Heroes of Philanthropy list 29 Jun 2011 Language The Sun Page No Business Feature Article Size N/A Color Daily ADValue 270,506 / 171,000 PRValue
English 12 2 199 cm Full Color 3,539 10,617
Malaysians make Forbes Asia s Heroes
of Philanthropy list KUAIA lUMPUfc Malaysians Datuk Vijay Eswaran of the QI Group of Companies Berjaya Group s Tan Sri Vincent Tan IJM Corp founder Koon Yew Yin and renowned
architect Hijjas Kasturi were among 48 people named Heroes of Philanthropy by Forbes Asia The list is compiled annually by Forbes with the aim of calling attention to notable people and causes throughout the region Vijay the executive chairman and
co founder of the QI Group of Companies was selected for his extensive contribution amounting to millions of dollars to various causes
around the globe including public health initiatives education and cultural programmes
He operates his company based on the philosophy ofRYTHM an acronym for Raise Yourself to Help Mankind which he propagates among the employees ofhis global business empire His QI Group is an e commerce based conglomerate with businesses that have diversified into a variety of sectors that include retail travel telecommunications watches
luxury products wellness training technology and corporate investments
In February another Malaysian on the Forbes Asia list Berjaya
Corporation Bhd founder Tan Sn Vincent Tan pledged to donate at least half ofhis wealth to charity This follows his decision to join The Giving Pledge initiated by Bill Gates his wife Melinda and Warren Buffett
Renowned architect Hijjas Kasturi 74 and Angela Hijjas 61 have sponsored and hosted more than 100 artists writers and
performers since starting a residency programme in 1994 at their traditional Malay home in a tropical garden outside Kuala Lumpur
The programme is partly funded by profits from a boutique hotel in George Town Penang that they converted from a cluster ofpre war shophouses The restoration helped revive a derelict area and serves as a
studio for artists
Koon 78 co founder of IJM Corp donates roughly US 300 ooo RM9i4 85o a year to various causes He also funds scholarships for needy students and has given to 80 students at Tunku Abdul Rahman
University He had previously said that he learned the value of education in
escaping poverty after growing up in a family of 12 The Malaysians were listed
among other well known Asians such as actors Jaclde Chan from Hongkong and Vivek Oberoi from India as well as Japanese architect Tadao Ando
The list annually features philanthropists who have not been highlighted by Forbes Asia before Bemama