After graduating from high school, Lim began looking for a job but was rejected by most companies. Among the rejectors was Malaysia Airlines where he applied for an air steward position.
“Every time I’m on an airplane, I’m reminded of this,” the 73-year-old said during an interview with The Straits Times.
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Lim Han Weng, founder of bus operator Causeway Link. Photo courtesy of the company |
He eventually landed a job as a car salesman with Wearne Brothers, earning a modest MYR250 (US$59) monthly salary.
Tasked with selling two cars a month in a small town, he faced challenges pushing large, costly Jaguar, Holden, and Opel models, which were less popular than Japanese cars. Nevertheless, he met his targets and valued the sales training.
Later, he joined Lori Malaysia, a semi-government logistics firm, where he was assigned to various regions.
Upon arriving at the Johor branch, a driver remarked that its proximity to Singapore made it the ideal place to earn money. Lim stayed for five years, but resigned when asked to return to the Kuala Lumpur headquarters.
In 1984, alongside his wife Bah Kim Lian, Lim co-founded Yinson Transport, starting with a small fleet of lorries to move goods across the border for businesses.
This humble trucking venture grew significantly after he ventured into marine logistics, supplying ships and offshore support vessels to oil and gas companies.
Yinson Holdings went public in 1996 and expanded globally, becoming one of the world’s leading providers of floating production, storage, and offloading vessels for crude oil extraction and storage.
Forbes reports that Yinson holds US$21 billion in leasing contracts extending to 2048. The company also engages in renewable energy production and developing electric vehicle charging networks.
In Singapore, Lim established Liannex Corporation in 1993, which now provides services in bus modification, marine logistics, port operations, and construction material supply.
In 2024, through Liannex Corporation, he acquired a controlling stake in marine logistics firm Icon Offshore, transforming it into Lianson Fleet Group, which boasts a market capitalization exceeding MYR670 million as of June 2.
Recognizing the struggles of cross-border commuters, Lim launched Causeway Link bus services in 2003 after navigating political hurdles, financing, and recruitment challenges.
On March 28, the company went public as HI Mobility, with plans to introduce innovative smart mobility solutions across the Causeway.
A passion for work
Despite his family’s net worth of US$480 million, Lim remains deeply involved, personally handling calls and WhatsApp messages from frustrated passengers.
Lim has passed the leadership of his three listed companies to his children: Lim Chern Chuen and Lim Chern Fang manage HI Mobility, Lim Chern Yuan leads Yinson Holdings, and Lim Chern Wooi heads Lianson Fleet Group.
He sent his children to study in Australia before they were 10, with no relatives nearby and their mother unable to stay with them constantly, forcing them to become self-reliant early.
“When you help them too much, they don’t want to think for themselves,” Lim said, dismissing overparenting.
Lim remains active in expanding his other businesses, particularly in Indonesia, where his children lack fluency in the local language. “If you retire, your brain will go haywire,” he quipped.
His son, Lim Chern Chuen, noted that retirement is unlikely for his father. “Our dinner conversations usually revolve around work,” the HI Mobility chief executive said. “For him, it’s not really work. It’s like a passion as well, so it’s difficult to take the two apart.”
A strong proponent of entrepreneurship, Lim takes pride in inspiring bankers he met to launch their own ventures and succeed.
He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to seize nearby opportunities, stating, “Singapore has a financial centre, Malaysia has land and resources. When we look at these two countries, there are plenty of opportunities.”
For him, global ambitions begin locally, with Singapore and Malaysia serving as the perfect springboard.
The family business continues to thrive. In 2020, the company branched out into renewable energy and currently operates solar power plants in India and Peru. It is also growing its electric vehicle charging network across Southeast Asia, Forbes reported.
In January, Yinson Holdings raised $1 billion from marquee investors such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, to fund the offshore vessels business as well as renewable energy projects.
