PETALING JAYA: Ananda Krishnan Tatparanandam (pic) was among the most famous names in Malaysia, being one of the richest men in the country.
He was founder of one of the country’s largest mobile operators, Maxis Bhd, as well as the broadcasting and media company Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd.
He was also among the people responsible for changing the skyline of Kuala Lumpur when he got the nod to turn a racetrack in Ampang into a massive city within a city – the Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin buildings at that time.
Yet, he was also one of the most reclusive men in the country, staying away from the limelight and often shunning the media.
The billionaire passed away yesterday at the age of 86, Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd, the investment firm he founded, said in a brief statement yesterday.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the demise of our chairman, Ananda Krishnan Tatparanandam.
“He has made significant contributions to nation building and the corporate world, and his philanthropic initiatives have touched many lives.
“We humbly ask that the family’s wishes to mourn in private be respected.”
Estimated to be worth US$5.8bil (RM25.7bil), Ananda Krishnan often made it to the annual Forbes’ list of the wealthiest people, being ranked as the third richest person in Malaysia.
Known for maintaining a low profile, Ananda was also a philanthropist, having founded the Yu Cai Foundation in 2015, named after the Mandarin words that translate to “nurture talent”.
He donated to many causes over the years, even teaming up with Irish rock star Bob Geldof to organise Live Aid in July 1985.
The concerts in London and Philadelphia drew more than 150,000 spectators and 1.5 billion television viewers, and raised US$70mil (RM311mil) for famine victims.
Born on April 1, 1938 to a Sri Lankan Tamil civil servant, he studied at Vivekananda Tamil School in Brickfields and then at Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur.
He attended the University of Melbourne, Australia, for his B.A. (Honours) degree, majoring in political science as a Colombo Plan scholar.
He also obtained a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, graduating in 1964.
Over the years, Ananda built a reputation as a savvy, businessman whose fingerprints were everywhere, but who would rarely show up in person.
He made forays into entertainment, power, gambling and more.
In 2007, he orchestrated a buyout of Maxis and relisted it to the public two years later.
Ananda had three children – a son, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, who is a Buddhist monk and two daughters.
