Genting Highlands

Please take note that Genting Highlands is a very important tourists destination for Malaysia. So, tour guides must have full information about Genting Highlands.

For your information, this part of information I will only give my commentary while on the way down the hill towards Batu Caves.

You might be curious as to why I gave this information after we stayed a night in Genting Highlands. My reason is that when the tourists are up on top of the hill, they will usually very curious about it. So, when we give the commentary on the next day, they will want to listen out of curiosity. And I find that after touring Genting Highlands, then I give information about it, the tourists will understand better.










Almost any Asian countries tour groups which come to Malaysia will definately go to Genting Highlands. This touristic spot is definately a must for most asians as most of the tourists will be amazed and baffled at the wonders of this super construction on top of the hill.

Most tourists upon reaching Genting Highlands will have lots of queries on who owns it and develop the hill. Hence, here is a summary of the My Story by Lim Goh Tong. I strongly recommend that all tourist guides must have this book and read up this book in order to give give good commentary to the tourists about Genting Highlands.

I divide the commentary of Genting Highlands into 2 parts. The first part is about the development of Genting Highlands. The second part will be more info on the facilities and facts and figures of Genting Highlands.

My Story by Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong

Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong was born in the year 1918 in the district of Anxi of Fujian province.

Origin of Lim Goh Tong’s Name

Lim Goh Tong’s grandfather named him after a name of tree Wu Tong. According to the Southern China people’s legend, the phoenix was said to be the king of all birds and will only make nest on this type of tree. With this name, his grandfather hopes that he will have good luck in his life.

Lim Goh Tong is the eldest among 7 siblings. His father past away when he was 16 years old. He has to take over the responsibility of his father to take care of the whole family.

His fourth uncle who has migrated to Malaya and started a construction business. He was a Class A constructor in Kuala Lumpur. One day when Lim Goh Tong knew that his 4th uncle sent 200 dollars to his mother to support his brother’s education, he told his mother of his intention to come to Malaya.

In the year 1937, when Japan was having war with China, he came to Malaya with only 175 dollars.

When in Kuala Lumpur, Lim Goh Tong was working for his 4th uncle as a carpenter. From here, he learned the basic business skills.

Three years later, after earning a little amount of money, he decided to go back to China because of missing his hometown and mother very much.

In the year 1941, Lim Goh Tong decided to go back to Peninsular due to the worsening war between Japan and China. At this time, he came to Peninsular with a totally changed man who is more optimistic and positive.

Later, during the 2nd world war in Peninsular, Lim involved in the 2nd hand steel business. After the 2nd world war, his business is booming that he is already involved in machinery business.

Later in 1951, he set up a construction company by the name of Kien Huat Private Limited. This is the starting point of Lim Goh Tong’s business empire.

Lim Goh Tong felt sad the most because he could not see and visit his mother. He could not be by her side when she past away. That’s the reason why Lim Goh Tong has his big mother’s portray in his sleeping room and also in his office in Wisma Genting.

Among all the projects, the biggest and the proudest is the Ayer Hitam Dam in Pulau Pinang. Before independence, all big projects are given to foreign construction companies. When Kien Huat was given the tender in 1957 to build the Ayer Hitam Dam, this is important and first in the construction history that such a big project was given to a local. The dam was built within 5 years using RM12million. After successfully building the dam, Kien Huat became a very famous construction company in Malaysia.

Building of Genting Highlands

In 1963, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong was the subcontractor for the hydroelectric project in Cameron Highlands.

One night, after he had dinner and had some beer with the German contractors and managers, he felt heaty and wanted to take a walk to take fresh air.

While standing on a corner, he was so amazed at the beautiful scenery of the hill in the evening and the fresh air blowing to his body. Hence, he close his eyes and took a deep breath to enjoy the fresh air. Suddenly, an inspiration comes to his mind.

Firstly, he was thinking that Malaysia has a tropical climate. So people will want to have a holiday in a cool hilly place from time to time. This can be seen by the popularity of Cameron Highlands. But then Cameron Highlands is quite far and is four to five hours of journey by car from Kuala Lumpur. It will be nice if can find a hill which is close by Kuala Lumpur which is within one to two hour journey away.

He also believed that the living lifestyle of Malaysian will increase and hence more people will go to the hill resort for rest and entertainment.

So, why not find a hill resort nearby Kuala Lumpur? This inspiration appeared suddenly.

Upon reaching Kuala Lumpur, he immediately look out for a suitable hill to be the hill resort. He is attracted to the hill Gunung Ulu Kali which is 1800m above sea level and is 58km away from Kuala Lumpur.

Within few days, he managed to have a team of 20 people to follow him in this expediton to explore the Ulu Kali hill. After climbing 9 days 8 nights they reached the top of the hill. Tan Sri Lim was so amazed at the beauty of the nature with fresh cool climate on top of the hill.
On 27th April 1965 Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong and Tan Sri Haji Mohd Noah set up a private limited company by the name Genting Highlands Sdn Bhd. Tan Sri Mohd Noah introduced Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong to PM Tunku Abdul Rahman. He proposed to the Tunku on developing the Ulu Kali hill into a hill resort. Tunku agreed and approved the project. So, Tan Sri Lim managed to get the land approval from the Selangor and Pahang government to develop the hill. This is because Ulu Kali hill is located between the states of Selangor and Pahang. The hill is 4940 hectare in Pahang state and 1110 hectare in Selangor. Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong managed to get the long term land title from both the states.

On 8th August 1965, Tan Sri Lim started the project to develop Genting Highlands. He planed to build the road within six years. While building the road, he came to know that the government has a plan to build a telecommunication tower at the middle of the hill. He managed to convince the government to give the telecommunication project to him so as he can build it on top of the hill so as to get better reception signal. The government agreed with condition that it has to built within 3 years and promised will give a subsidy of RM900,000.

So, Tan Sri Lim has no choice but to build the road within 3 years.

During the building of the road, Tan Sri is actually gambling his life that 6 times his life was nearly taken away by all kind of accidents.

Finally, at 8th May 1971, Genting opened its door as a hill resort.