Media Centre

Throughout his thirty five years as a pioneering advocate of innovation in education, no other award has taken the Founder and President of Limkokwing University of Creativity Technology Tan Sri Dato Sri Dr Lim Kok Wing by surprise than one he received from the Lim Association Malaysia. 

At a simple ceremony in the Hall of Fame, the Lim Association proudly presented the Honorary Lifetime President of Lim Association citation for the World’s First University Founded by a Lim to an appreciative Tan Sri Lim on May 24, 2010.

Honouring him were the President of the Federation of Lim Association, Dr Robert Lim, its Permanent Advisor, Tan Sri Lim Gait Thong, distinguished guests and the Guest-of-Honour, Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who presented the award to Tan Sri Lim.

In saluting Tan Sri Lim, the Health Minister said that the University Founder has brought many contributions to the country, most notably in promoting creativity and innovation, which are tools to engineer the future.

“Tan Sri Dato Sri Dr Lim Kok Wing was recently described as the Father of Innovation in Creative Education. Congratulations Tan Sri, and our country need creativity and innovation as what our beloved Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib said that we need innovation to have breakthrough and success to another level. This year the Prime Minister has emphasized 2010 is the year of creativity and innovation. It is our hope Tan Sri that your University can bring more creativity and innovation in this country.”

In his speech, Dr Robert Lim said the Lim Association is proud of Tan Sri Lim’s achievement in setting up a globalised university that it is today.

“The University carries the brand name of Lim. That is something great to us. That is why we must be here today to recognize this feat.”

In his speech, Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong took the opportunity to trace the growth of Limkokwing University.

“As we all are aware, Limkokwing University of Creativity Technology was founded by Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing in 1991. It was established to play an active role enabling much-needed technology transfer in the area of creative education. The brain-child of Tan Sri Lim has become a full-fledged entity, not only in Malaysia but the world. This is truly a great achievement!”

He said that Tan Sri’ Lim’s brilliant leadership, his generosity and kindness in contributing to the country should be a role model to all Malaysians, while thanking him for his recent contribution of RM1.8 million to the needy students of the Lim clan in Malaysia.

“Tan Sri’s brilliant leadership, and his generosity and kindness in contributing to the country should be a role model to all of us. This is an excellent gesture and, behalf of Lim clan, Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing is part and parcel of the clan, I wish to thank deeply for this kind thought.”

In his acceptance speech, Tan Sri Lim acknowledged the many kinds words heaped upon him by the speakers and the Lim Association Malaysia, in particular, for honouring him with the lifetime award, which he will cherish with pride. 

“This honour has come very much as a surprise – a recognition by the Lim community in this country. I simply did not expect it.”

The audience was fascinated by Tan Sri Lim’s pride in identifying himself as a Lim, one among 800,000 ‘Lims’ in an estimated population of six million people of Chinese descent in the country.

A man recognized for his nation-building endeavours, Tan Sri took the opportunity to touch on the spirit of 1Malaysia, a topic close to his heart.

“In the spirit of 1Malaysia, I do hope this sense of accomplishment will also be shared by all in all other communities.” 

Tan Sri Lim then announced a RM10 million Scholarship Fund under the Limkokwing Foundation to help sponsor deserving Chinese students to acquire innovative skills. 

“This fund will be to sponsor Chinese students in the acquisition of smart skills that will place them in high-tech and high-income careers. I shall work closely with the Lim Foundation on its implementation.”

He also said that the fund will be made available to any deserving student besides those from the Lim Association Malaysia.

A driver of 21st century innovative education, Tan Sri Lim reminded his audience that Limkokwing University – the first varsity with the Lim surname - will continue to move forward as one of the important education endeavours the world has ever seen.

An educationist, a philanthropist and an award-winning creative director, Tan Sri Lim has a number of national and international awards to his credit. 

Tan Sri Lim had recently given out RM1.8 million worth of scholarships to the Federation of Lim Association for the benefit of future Lim generations to be moulded on the importance of culture and education.

On 16 December 2009, he was honoured by the Ramadan Foundation with the ‘International Contribution to Humanity and Philanthropy’ award, the sole non-Muslim to receive this accolade.

His many outstanding contributions to Malaysia and global education are other areas to be recognised by organizations throughout 2009. 

These included the ‘Hero of Philanthropy’ award by the prestigious Forbes Magazine for his moral and financial support to the world’s suffering and less fortunate.

These and other awards tell one thing of this proud son of the Lim clan, an exceptional man who has used his vast talents to pioneer creativity and innovation on a global scale.

This scion of the Lim clan plans to continue to trail blaze Malaysia with his passion for creativity and innovation.