Tiong Hiew King & family

Tan Sri Datuk Tiong Hiew King, the Malaysian Chinese magnate behind the Rimbunan Hijau Group, established in 1975, stands out in the global timber industry with significant operations in Papua New Guinea and Russia. As of March 2018, Forbes listed his net worth at approximately US$1.1 billion, ranking him the 1,999th wealthiest globally. Tiong, who resides in Sibu, Sarawak, on Borneo island, experienced a health setback with a stroke in April 2017. His family is notably the second-largest private landowner in New Zealand. Beyond timber, Tiong's influence extends to the media sector through ownership of major Chinese dailies in Malaysia, including Sin Chew Daily and Guang Ming Daily, and international publications. In 2018, he shifted to a non-executive role in Media Chinese International Limited, the umbrella for his extensive media assets. Politically, the Tiongs are aligned with Sarawak's ruling coalition through the Sarawak United People's Party. The family's practices, particularly in the timber domain, have stirred controversies, including environmental concerns leading to calls for revoking Tiong's honorary knighthood awarded in 2009.