PETALING JAYA: Tycoon Lee Shin Cheng died at 8.30pm today, just two days short of his 80th birthday.
In an obituary published by Sin Chew Daily, billionaire Lee was described as having “built himself from scratch”.
Born in Klang, Lee was the fifth of seven children .
“He came from a poor family, he quit school at 11-years-old to work and help the family. He used to sell ice-cream on a bicycle for four years. He had also worked as a petrol station attendant and plantation general worker,” the daily reported.
Lee was founder and executive chairman of IOI Group. He was reportedly due to retire next week, on his birthday.
In March, Lee’s youngest son, Lee Yeow Seng, chief executive of IOI Properties Group Bhd, married Yeo Bee Yin, the energy, technology, science, climate change and environment minister.