The Yaw Teck Seng Foundation, launched on 27 October 2008, embodies the distinctive Malaysian values of compassion, empathy, and respect. Guided by these principles, the Foundation is committed to advancing charitable, philanthropic, and educational initiatives that contribute meaningfully to the well-being of communities across Malaysia.
Through its efforts, the Foundation seeks to uplift lives, create opportunities, and foster long-term, sustainable impact.
The Foundation is inspired by the vision and values of Tan Sri Datuk Amar Yaw Teck Seng, Founder and President of the Samling Group of Companies. His longstanding commitment to responsible business practices, community development, and nation-building serves as the cornerstone of the Foundation’s mission to give back to society and support inclusive growth.
The Yaw Teck Seng Foundation is dedicated to creating positive and lasting impact by providing financial assistance, strategic support, and resources in the following key areas:
Education is the cornerstone of empowering today’s youth to become the leaders of tomorrow. The Foundation is committed to supporting young and talented Malaysians from disadvantaged backgrounds, regardless of race, language, or religion. This includes the provision of scholarships, grants, and financial assistance, as well as support for initiatives that enhance teaching methodologies, improve access to quality education, and strengthen educational institutions.
The rising cost of healthcare continues to be a significant burden for many Malaysians, particularly those from underprivileged and rural communities. The Foundation seeks to alleviate this burden by providing financial assistance to individuals in genuine need, especially those requiring treatment and diagnosis for serious or life-threatening conditions. Through these efforts, the Foundation aims to improve access to essential healthcare services and promote overall well-being, particularly from the rural communities.
Recognising the importance of preserving Malaysia’s rich natural heritage, the Foundation supports initiatives that promote environmental awareness and sustainable development. This includes funding for educational programmes, conservation projects, and community-driven efforts that encourage environmental stewardship, responsible resource management, and the adoption of best practices for a more sustainable future.
Dato Sri Yaw Chee Ming graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master of Business Administration.
He served as Chief Executive Officer of Samling from 1988 to 2017, a tenure spanning nearly three decades, before transitioning to the role of Non-Executive Chairman of the Group.
Under his leadership, the Group diversified and consolidated its presence across multiple sectors, including oil palm, property development, infrastructure and more recently, carbon credit development and the supply of certified wood pellets to support renewable bioenergy.
Graduated from City of London Polytechnic (currently known as the London Metropolitan University) and the University of Salford in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science respectively. Datuk Yaw currently serves as Director on the boards of several companies within the Samling Group.
Born in Kuching in 1949, Dato Sri received his early education at St Joseph’s School, Kuching, before proceeding, in 1968, to study law at the University of Bristol, England where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Hons) in June 1971. He was called to the English Bar by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in November 1971. He was admitted to practice as an Advocate in Sarawak in January 1972, and remained in private practice with the Law firm of Reddi & Company, Kuching until the end of July 1992.
On 8th August 1992 he was appointed as the State Attorney-General, Sarawak, a position he held until 31st December, 2007. Upon relinquishing that position, he has been retained by the State Government of Sarawak in an advisory capacity and continues to represent the State Government in cases before the appellate Courts and the High Court. He sits on the Board of Directors of Corporations wherein the State Government has equity interests, including Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad, Sarawak Energy Berhad, and Syarikat SESCO Berhad. He is a member of the Board of Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (which runs the Curtin University Miri Campus) and St Joseph’s Private School, Kuching.
He is the author of three books. Two books were published by Thomson-Reuters, namely Constitutional Federalism in Malaysia [2008] and Law on Native Customary Land in Sarawak [2011] and Sarawak Law Series Land Code [with Annotations] published by LexisNexis [2015].
He was conferred with the following awards, Johan Bintang Sarawak – J.B.S [1987], Panglima Jasa Negara – P.J.N [2000], Darjah Kebesaran Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang – P.G.B.K [1994], and Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak – P.N.B.S [2017].
Datu Ose Murang had a long career in the Sarawak State Civil Service where he rose to the rank of Deputy State Secretary prior to his retirement in 2016. He was until 2022, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, the owner and manager of Curtin University Malaysia in Miri, Sarawak. With his vast experience in Government, Datu Ose consults in the fields of institutional, regional and community development. He is currently a Member of the Board of Trustee for Dayak Cultural Foundation, an Advisor for Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Sarawak Malaysia (FORUM), RURUM Kelabit Sarawak, and Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OUCCI). He holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Management and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Agricultural Science.
Since the Foundation’s inception in 2008, it has positively impacted the lives of many recipients through meaningful assistance, charitable initiatives, and community outreach programmes that continue to uplift lives and strengthen communities.
