The founder and executive chairman of Westports Holdings Bhd, Tan Sri Datuk G. Gnanalingam, passed away at age 78.
Tan Sri Gnanalingam founded Westports Holdings, which operates Malaysia’s largest port, in 1994. As a logistics industry leader, the company recorded a container volume of 10.5 million TEUs in 2020, becoming the first and only terminal in Malaysia to handle more than 10 million TEUs in a calendar year. The group owns a 60-year concession to operate and expand its container terminals in Pulau Indah and Port Klang, which will end in 2054. In addition, Westports is also one of three main port operators in the Strait of Malacca.
As one of the richest Malaysians in the Forbes 2023 billionaire list, Tan Sri Gnanalingam is an incredibly wealthy individual who has contributed to the country’s growth and success. Also “a source of inspiration,” this year marks the 29th anniversary of Tan Sri Datuk G. Gnanalingam from when he began operating Westports Malaysia in 1994.
Westports Malaysia
“It is with deep sorrow that Westports announces the demise of our beloved Executive Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Gnanalingam a/l Gunanath Lingam, who passed away peacefully today, at the age of 78,” Westports announced yesterday in a filing with Bursa Malaysia.
“He touched our lives and the community with his compassion, generosity, and kindness. His vision and stewardship of the Company have built and transformed Westports and Port Klang into the preeminent gateway port in Malaysia and one of the transshipment hubs in South East Asia,” said Westports Malaysia.
“In this time of grief, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to Gnanalingam’s family,” it said.
The Singapore-born captain of the industry grew up in Port Dickson and Kuala Pilah. Tan Sri Gnanalingam joined the privately owned port in 1994 and was instrumental in building the port into a leading cargo port in Asia. After obtaining his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Malaya, he started his career with British American Tobacco, eventually becoming its marketing director. He was the man who brought live telecasts of the FIFA World Cup to Malaysian homes in the 1980s.
From 1988-2000, Tan Sri Gnanalingam founded and served as the consultant for G-Team Consultants Sdn Bhd, which managed commercial operations for Radio Television Malaysia.
He won the concession to run a port terminal in 1994, part of a government’s privatisation project, and with sheer hard work and dedication, made Westports become Malaysia’s largest privately owned port. During the 1997-1998 Asian Financial Crisis, Tan Sri Gnanalingam took innovative measures to win traffic that saw Port Klang achieve positive growth and facilitated the connection to Westport, while also committing to community and welfare causes.
As of yesterday’s close in the Malaysian market, Westports Holdings Bhd’s shares were unchanged at RM3.53, giving it a market capitalisation of MYR12.04 billion.
