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Tahir launches biography's Chinese-language edition in Singapore
To tell his life story to a wider audience, Dato’ Sri Tahir launched the Chinese-language edition of his biography, Living Sacrifice, in Singapore on Wednesday.
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Mayapada Group owner Dato' Sri Tahir (left to right) and former Indonesian presidents BJ Habibie and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the launch of the Chinese-language edition of Tahir's biography, Living Sacrifice, in Singapore on Wednesday. The book depicts Tahir's life journey from living in poverty to becoming Indonesia's 10th richest person. (JP/Stefani Ribka)
T
o tell his life story to a wider audience, Dato’ Sri Tahir launched the Chinese-language edition of his biography, Living Sacrifice, in Singapore on Wednesday.
The book, recounting his journey from living in poverty to becoming Indonesia’s 10th richest person, was written by Alberthiene Endah and first published in Indonesian last year before being translated into English and Chinese.
Tahir, emotionally attached to Singapore, where he completed his undergraduate studies at Nanyang University – now the National University of Singapore, said that he wanted to share his life story with the Chinese community in the country and hoped to inspire them.
He said he made meaningful friendships with Singaporeans, some of whom had given him significant contributions in his early days in business.
”At first, I was a bit hesitant about writing it because those who know me would tell you that I like to be low key. I felt – and still feel – I have not done enough to merit a book about my life and thoughts. But after thinking about it some more, I decided to give it a go,” he told the audience during the book launch at Singapore Management University in Singapore on Wednesday.
The book mainly recounts his experiences growing up in poverty, his parents’ hard work to improve their welfare through ups and downs in various businesses – ranging from a pedicab workshop, minimarket to gold sales – which start bearing fruit, giving them the means to send him abroad to study in Singapore.
The book also gives personal insight into how he felt becoming the son-in-law of Lippo Group founder Mochtar Riady: how he struggled to adapt to the huge gap between the tycoon lifestyle and his modest lifestyle, and how he strived hard to establish his own business.
Present at the book launch were former president BJ Habibie and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Habibie saw Tahir as his intellectual son and said that Tahir’s story showed the importance of hard work.
“The future of the nation depends not on natural resources, but manpower. That’s why the middle class is so important. They must get special attention because out of that middle class we will see leaders of economics, finances and politics,” he said at the event.
The book is priced at S$200 (US$147). All proceeds from book sales, plus $S400 from the Tahir Foundation for each sold book, will go to a Singaporean charity. (bbn)
