Early Life
Dato' Sri Tahir, born Ang Tjoen Ming on March 26, 1952, in Surabaya, Indonesia. His upbringing was modest; his father made pedicabs, and his mother managed a small shop. Tahir initially aspired to be a doctor but had to abandon this dream due to his father's illness. He graduated from Petra Kalianyar Christian High School in Surabaya in 1971.
Rise to Success
Tahir pursued a business degree from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. During his studies, he began importing goods from Singapore to sell in Indonesia, marking his initial foray into entrepreneurship. In 1986, he established the Mayapada Group. The Mayapada Group expanded into various sectors, including garments, finance, automobiles, healthcare, and media. The group's success includes Bank Mayapada, which survived the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.
Key Business Strategies
Tahir's business acumen is evident in Mayapada Bank's resilience during the Asian financial crisis. His focus on customer trust and giving back to society were key. The Mayapada Group has a diversified portfolio, including banking, healthcare, media, and property development. The group has also made strategic investments in Singapore.
Philanthropy
Tahir is a dedicated philanthropist. He founded the Tahir Foundation, which focuses on health and education initiatives in Asia. He contributed $75 million to The Global Fund in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has also donated over $100 million to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the fight against diseases.
