Published March 6, 2009

Four S'poreans make it to Forbes Asia philanthropy list

Most notable is Melissa Kwee, with her plans to hire migrant workers

By TEH SHI NING

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(SINGAPORE) Melissa Kwee, daughter of hotel and property tycoon Kwee Liong Tek, was featured in the latest issue of Forbes Asia for her pilot programme to directly recruit migrant workers for the Capella resort that her family has just built on Sentosa.

Reporting on her efforts to better migrant workers' lot by changing recruitment practices, the Forbes Asia piece said that she 'could have been the Paris Hilton of Singapore', but is instead the 'public face of the Kwee family's quiet but quite sizable philanthropic efforts'.

The Kwee family has funded publicly commissioned artworks, and contributed to local museums as well as scholarship and school funds here and in the US. For that, they have recently been honoured on Forbes Asia's second annual Heroes of Philanthropy list.

Other altruistic Singaporeans on Forbes Asia's list of 48 philanthropists from 12 Asia-Pacific markets, are Raffles Education's founder and CEO Chew Hua Seng, Lien Foundation's Margaret Lien, and UOB's chairman Wee Cho Yaw.

Mr Chew pledged US$70 million last September to the Chew Hua Seng Foundation he started in late 2007. The foundation, focused on educating disadvantaged youth, has donated at least US$3.3 million so far.

Also lauded for supporting education was Margaret Lien, who heads the Lien Foundation, founded in 1980 by her late husband, banker and hotelier Lien Ying Chow.

The foundation recently provided needy children with access to pre-school through the Young Women's Muslim Association. It has also funded a nursing home and spent US$26 million over the past four years on projects such as clean-water and sanitation systems for the poor in Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

Banking magnate Mr Wee, and his family, were recognised by Forbes Asia as the 'latest in a string of Singaporeans setting up a charitable foundation'.

The Wee Foundation, launched in early February with US$20 million, will help young people continue their education, assist the poor and the aged in Singapore and the region, and also promote Chinese language and culture. Mr Wee and his family ranked third on Forbes' Singapore rich list last August, with a net worth of US$3.6 billion.

Other billionaires on the list are Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing who also made last year's list, Hang Lung's Ronnie Chan from Hong Kong, Chinese property developers Yang Huiyan and her father Yeung Kwok Keung, Thai Beverage's Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, and Indonesian tobacco tycoon Putera Sampoerna.

But, Forbes Asia said, those on its list 'aren't always the biggest givers'. Instead, it aims to 'highlight a varied group of generous people' including some who 'don't show up on any Rich Lists but have put together useful projects'.

'By calling attention to these 48, we hope to encourage more giving, even in a down economy,' Forbes Asia said.

The Singaporeans named on last year's list were Raffles Medical Group's executive chairman and co-founder Loo Choon Yong, Creative Technology's founder Sim Wong Hoo, Goodwood Park Hotel chairman Mavis Khoo, and engineering consultant Wee Lin.