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Outstanding achiever honoured by MID

"The name, Dato’ Lim Kok Wing, conjures awe and reverence in the minds of many. A taskmaster, he executes all with basic ingredients – consistency and an absolute commitment to excellence.

A much sought-after expert in the field of communications and design, winning more creative awards than any single person in Asia, Dato’ Lim Kok Wing has contributed more towards building this industry than anyone else.

Believing that creativity is an essential business tool and armed with not much more, Dato’ Lim started his first agency in 1975. Very soon, Wings broke foreign domination in the communications area, sweeping international and national awards. Suddenly Malaysia became known as capable of producing work of substance, style and quality.

Much of what this man creates is adopted by the government for public campaigns. Be Nice To Your Neighbour, the jingle is still heard over radio after almost 10 years. The song, We Are Proud To Be Malaysian, is the echo in our heart put to rhyme by Dato’ Lim. Unity Is Everything or Kita Bersatu Hati was launched by Dato’ Lim three years ago. In 1989, Dato’ Lim’s Ceasefire, an anti-nuclear build-up filmlet, won first prize against 6,000 other entries worldwide.

Some say success is to win the respect of intelligent persons and to earn the approval of honest critics. Dato’ Lim Kok Wing’s achievements have been widely recorded in international magazines.

• The Intersect magazine calls him The Creative Wizard.

• The Asia Magazine has named him The Message Man.

• The Asiaweek refers to him as The Compassionate Adman.

• Asia Business describes him as having embarked on a Creative Crusade for Quality.

• The Media Magazine reports his influence by example and success by perseverance which has inspired many to follow in his footsteps.

A man of few words and always believing well done is better than well said, Dato’ Lim now owns the largest integrated communications group in Asia, specialising in marketing and design consultancy, public relations, corporate communication, audio-visual production, photography and film production. Limkokwing Integrated is aligned to the prestigious BBDO and The Image Bank networks worldwide.

Dato’ Lim’s Artiquarium has also become a landmark. Showcasing and promoting Asian arts and culture crafts, the Artiquarium is the largest and most reputable private art and antique gallery in the country.

Dato’ Lim Kok Wing says, and I quote, "Kuala Lumpur has the potential of becoming the region’s creative capital. Malaysia must win recognition as a country capable of producing high quality if we are to compete with the best in the world." Unquote.

The Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology was launched this year. It is the first ever Malaysian university to offer internationally recognised diplomas in the field of communication and design.

Over the years, Malaysians have also come to know Dato’ Lim through his work in charitable and professional organisations. He is the national fund-raising chairman for the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, founder and president of the Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped, founder member and past president of Cancerlink Foundation, vice-president of United Nations Malaysia Association, Vice-president of the Malaysian Institute of Directors, and member of the Board of Trustees to both The Malaysian Handicraft Development Board and the National Art Gallery.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the nation, Dato’ Lim Kok Wing was conferred the title "Dato" in 1985 by His Highness, the Sultan of Selangor. In 1989, the JSM and in 1991, the JMN respectively were awarded to Dato’ Lim by His Majesty, the King.

Dato’ Lim has thus far published two books – Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Guli Guli, a compilation of his observations of life in cartoon form. Guli Guli the cartoon strip by Dato’ Lim ran in the New Straits Times for a period of five consecutive years.

Vision and resilience – the stamina to compete with the best…

• Artist

• Communicator

• Cartoonist

• Designer

• Strategist

• Philanthropist

• Educationist

• Father of two and husband of one

The Institute is pleased to confer Dato’ Lim Kok Wing with the highest award – The Fellowship of the Malaysian Institute of Directors."

Citation to mark the bestowal of the Fellowship award by the Malaysian Institute of Directors on communications and design guru turned educationist, Dato’ Lim Kok Wing, on 18 August 1992.