Westports founder Gnanalingam passes away

“He touched our lives and the community with his compassion, generosity and kindness," said Westports.

PETALING JAYA: Westports Holding Bhd’s founder Tan Sri Gnanalingam Gunanath Lingam has passed away at the age of 78.

In a statement yesterday, the port operator said Gnanalingam was a source of inspiration.

“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.”

Gnanalingam, who was born in Singapore on Sept 10, 1945, was trained at the Royal Military College, before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Malaya in 1968, a biography note on Westports website said.

He is also an alumni of the Harvard Business School in Boston, United States, having attended the school’s advanced management programme in 1983.

Gnanalingam has been married to Puan Seri Siew Yong Gnanalingam and they have three children.

Their eldest son, Datuk Ruben Emir Gnanalingam, is currently Westport’s managing director.

Gnanalingam began his career with Malayan Tobacco Co, or now known as British American Tobacco (M) Bhd after the merger with Rothmans, in 1968 as a sales representative and dedicated the first 16 years of his working career to the company.

In 1980, Gnanalingam, or “Tan Sri G”, as many would call him, was promoted to the position of marketing director.

He then left the tobacco company in the late 1980s to set up G-Team Consultants Sdn Bhd, the company which was given the mandate to beef up RTM and its advertising revenue in the wake of TV3 increasingly dominating the free-to-air television segment.In 1994, Gnanalingam successfully secured the concession to operate Westports.

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 2021, Gnanalingam’s efforts to the industry were recognised by the Transport Ministry, naming him as the Transport Man of the Year.

Westports began container operations with only nine cranes in 1996 and is currently among the leaders within the industry.

Westports was listed on the Main Market in 2013, debuting with a 20 sen premium at RM2.70 per share compared with its initial public offering price of RM2.50.

Westports closed flat at RM3.53 per share yesterday, giving it a market capitalisation of about RM12bil.