Quek Leng Chan, Malaysian tycoon who is the Chairman of a privately held conglomerate, is the world’s 265th richest man, and Malaysia’s 3rd, with a net worth of 5.3 billion dollars.

Chan studied at Victoria School in Singapore, and is a qualified lawyer from Middle Temple in the United Kingdom. His business portfolio is wide-ranging, and includes experience in several industries, including real estate, financial services, and manufacturing.

Chan co-founded and is Chairman and CEO of Hong Leong Group in Malaysia, a company that is involved in the finance, property, oil and gas, and food sectors. He is also Executive Chairman of a number of other companies, including Hong Leong Industries, Hume Industries, Hong Leong Financial Group, GuocoLand, Camerlin Group, Hong Leong Bank, HLG Capital, Hong Leong Assurance, Hong Leong Islamic Bank, and the Hong Leong Foundation.

Chan, like many other moguls in Malaysia, inherited the company from his father. His father was one of three brothers who started a small banking group in the 1920’s, and Chan helped turn it into the business empire it is today.

Chan could not do this without a team though. His billionaire cousin, Kwek Leng Beng, is Chairman is part of the family business. Beng oversees the operations of Hong Leong Group in Singapore.

Chan’s foundation, the Hong Leong Foundation, strives to improve the educational outcomes for lower income students and to provide financial support for abandoned elderly and children. The foundation is cautious about where their money goes, and they select only the best charities based on their transparency, accountability, and the effectiveness of their work.

Chan takes his philanthropy very seriously, and says, “We should be mindful that we avoid building a Group whose total concentration is to make profit – devoid of human touch and excitement. The Group has long been committed to a policy of social responsibility by striving for the betterment of society and holds strongly the belief that an organization does not detach itself from its social responsibilities.”