Tan Chong’s co-founder dies at 97

file photo...CHAIRMAN OF TAN CHONG MOTOR HOLDING BERHAD DATUK TAN KIM HOR

PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Tan Kim Hor (pic), the co-founder of the Tan Chong group, passed away on Monday.

Datuk Tan Boon Pun said his father passed away after a short illness.

The 97-year-old Kim Hor founded the Tan Chong group in the 1950s with his late brother Tan Sri Tan Yuet Foh.

After his departure from the Tan Chong group in 2004, Kim Hor and his children founded Wawasan TKH Sdn Bhd after they acquired a 28.7% stake in Greatpac Holdings Bhd.

Greatpac is involved in the manufacture and trading of disposable containers as well as mining and sales of refined kaolin.

Later, Kim Hor and his children injected car parts manufacturing and dealership businesses into Greatpac.

However, Kim Hor is more known for his involvement in the automotive business through Tan Chong.

The Tan Chong group, which has four listed companies under its stable, took the Malaysian automotive sector by storm in the 1970s with its Nissan brand of cars. 

It dominated the local market until Proton came into the picture.

Its listed entities are Tan Chong International Ltd (TCIL), Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd, APM Automotive Holdings Bhd and Warisan TC Holdings Bhd.  

Except for TCIL which is listed in Hong Kong, the rest are listed in Malaysia.