Goh Cheng Liang, Singapore’s second-richest man, passes away at 98

The Wuthelam Group currently owns close to 60% of Nippon Paint Holdings.

Goh Cheng Liang, founder of the Wuthelam Group and Singapore’s second-richest individual, has passed away. He was 98.

Born into a modest family and raised in a shophouse on River Valley Road, Goh started his business journey in 1949 with the launch of his Pigeon Brand paint company.

Over the decades, he transformed the business into a powerhouse by forging a strategic partnership with Nippon Paint, now the world’s fourth-largest paint manufacturer.

Today, the Wuthelam Group holds nearly 60% of Nippon Paint Holdings.

Beyond his paint empire, Goh was instrumental in developing key properties such as Liang Court and Mount Elizabeth Hospital, which he later sold.

Goh was equally known for his deep commitment to philanthropy. In 1995, with support from the late President Wee Kim Wee, he founded the Goh Foundation to formalise his charitable work.

The foundation has made significant contributions to cancer research and treatment, including the establishment of the National Cancer Centre Singapore and the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre—one of the few centers offering advanced proton beam therapy.

As a cancer survivor himself, Goh was passionate about advancing medical research. His philanthropy extended to supporting children’s cancer research at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the VIVA Foundation, and National University Hospital.

He also championed research into rheumatological and immunological diseases through Singapore General Hospital’s ARiSE programme, and backed palliative care innovations in partnership with SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre.

Moreover, Goh funded infrastructure projects in Dawu Village, his ancestral home in Chaozhou, China, including roads, clean water, sanitation, and schools aimed at uplifting the local community.

He is survived by three children — Hup Jin, Chuen Jin, and Chiat Jin — along with eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

His eldest son, Goh Hup Jin, described him as “a beacon of kindness and strength” who taught the family to live with compassion and humility.