The Malaysian Government has been extremely kind to me in my capacity as the developer of Genting Highlands. I owe greatly to the past and present Prime Ministers for their support and encouragement which have enabled my colleagues and I to realise our dream of turning a desolate mountain into the country’s top tourist resort.

I would like to thank the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, our first Prime Minister, for giving me the opportunity to take up such a challenge. His confidence and encouragement to me had given me the confidence and courage to embark on the daunting task of developing Genting Highlands.

The Tunku told me that he did not expect Genting, situated in immensely difficult terrain, to be developed within such a short period of time. That I was able to conquer this mountain through sheer hard work was quite 'unthinkable', he said to me.

The Tunku was a kind-hearted leader. Even till today, his words of support and encouragement still ring in my ears. His affable smiles remain forever in my memory. If it is said that I am the father of Genting Highlands' developments, I must be quick to add that it was the Tunku who made that role of mine possible.

It was the Tunku's wish in those days to develop Gunung Ulu Kali into a hill resort. The fact that I have now accomplished the job means the Tunku also had his wish fulfilled.

The late Tun Abdul Razak, the country's second Prime Minister, like his predecessor,
showered me with the same kind of support and encouragement. I can still recall vividly his first visit to Genting Highlands in 1975.

When he arrived on that sunny morning, I had great honour and pleasure to receive him and to show him what we had achieved.

Wearing a hat and with a walking stick, he walked briskly to the site of the water tank, the spot below the coffee-house of the present Genting Hotel.

It was a spot which offers a breathtaking view of Kuala Lumpur, Bentong and Batang Kali. Standing in the cool breeze and looking around in appreciation, Tun Abdul Razak exclaimed: "Beautiful, just like Switzerland."

His remarks cheered me up immediately. I could not help telling him that his kind words were undoubtedly the best encouragement to me and that his words put to rest all the fatigue and worries that had plagued me for the past seven years.

He also told me that although the Government had given large sums of money to the various states for tourism development, not a single state had achieved the results like mine. I thanked him for his praises. Jokingly, I told him that his good words might give me sleepless nights.

Tun Abdul Razak's visit to Genting Highlands, I later learnt, brought a windfall to the resort. After the visit, he proposed at a Cabinet meeting that all hill resort businesses be given a six-year pioneer status. This meant a one-year extension to the original five years. The proposal was approved by the Cabinet and Genting Highlands benefited in tax savings to the tune of RM8 million. Thus we had more funds to develop the resort.

The late Tun Hussein Onn, our third Prime Minister, had his very own way of lending support to Genting. One day in 1978, Tun Hussein and his entourage came to Awana Golf & Country Club for golf. I was accompanying him then. Tun Hussein told me that the Government appreciated my contributions to the nation’s tourism industry and that he would nominate me for a Tan Sri-ship award.

I was touched by his gesture. But I told him that I was not qualified for the award. I suggested that instead of awarding me a Tan Sri, it would be better to give Genting an additional year of pioneer status for this could result in more funds being available for expansion projects.

Tun Hussein smiled and replied that the Tan Sri-ship award was a recognition of my contributions to the nation. It was an honour that could not be bought with money. Subsequently, on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's birthday in 1979, I was conferred the Tan Sri title.

I will forever remember the support and encouragement given to me by Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, our present Prime Minister. On many occasions the Prime Minister publicly expressed his support for Genting. He generously praised me and accorded me recognition.

'Genting is really a story of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong' - Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir 
said at the resort's 25th anniversary dinner on August 11, 1990.

At Genting's 25th Anniversary Dinner on August 11, 1990, the Prime Minister made the following remarks in his speech:-

'Genting is really a story of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, a story of success that is quite unprecedented even in Malaysia, where many people have met with a great deal of success.'

'... from Tan Sri Lim's achievements, you can see that even though a man may be born elsewhere, he can always realise his dreams of building his business empire in Malaysia.'

'He has only a limited educational background. He does not speak English, converses only in Hokkien and some Malay, yet he had been able to succeed in business – this was not easy.'

I feel flattered and honoured by what the Prime Minister said of me. I would like to thank Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Under his leadership, Malaysia has been able to sustain not only social and political stability but also vibrant growth in all sectors of the national economy. The people's confidence in his leadership is best seen in their positive response to the 'Vision 2020' he sets out. Under this favourable social and economic environment, Genting Highlands is well poised to grow from strength to strength as a business group.

I am blessed with the good fortune of having enjoyed cordial relationship with the country's Prime Ministers during my life time. They have individually extended support and care to Genting and I. It is truly a relationship I specially treasure.