Goh King Chin

Goh King Chin is a Bruneian aristocrat, politician and businessperson of Chinese descent who is thought to be a multimillionaire and well-known philanthropist. and the Tutong District. was a shareholder in the company Chop Hock Kee in Tutong. Goh began his education at Chung Hua School in Tutong before continuing his studies at Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College, a prestigious institution at the time. He was a classmate of then-Prince Hassanal Bolkiah, Abu Bakar Apong and Eusoff Agaki Ismail. After graduating from the college, Goh worked as a customs and excise officer in the government sector from 1964 to 1970.

Business career In 1970, Goh King Chin left his government role to establish GHK Motors, a company specializing in importing reconditioned secondhand cars, mainly from Europe, the United States, and Japan. Over the years, GHK Motors evolved into a leading player in Brunei’s automotive industry, earning Goh a solid reputation as a successful entrepreneur. Named after his father, Goh Hock Kee, the company initially dealt in vehicles and spare parts. It later became the agent for renowned car brands like Daihatsu, Mitsubishi, and Daewoo, as well as manufacturers from Europe and China. While serving on the LegCo, he frequently attended conferences for the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Worker shortages Although Brunei has up to 7000 persons listed as unemployed, a lack of workers is another obstacle to the growth of the country's industries. Increased national skill development, in the opinion of Pehin Goh, is one approach to lower unemployment while boosting the domestic manufacturing industry. He stated as much in a speech to the LegCo in mid-March 2011, "With limits on how many jobseekers the public sector can absorb, it is essential that efforts be made to meet the labour needs of the private sector industries the government is trying to encourage."

Statelessness Pehin Goh stated during a 2005 Legislative Council Meeting that the Chinese community admires the Sultan's leadership and credits his rule for the peace and tranquility they enjoy. He reaffirmed the community's support and respect for Brunei's Islamic principles and governance, and he asked that officials make it easier for Chinese people who were born there to become citizens. Goh also promoted giving foreign investors permanent residence (PR) status, claiming that this would boost small and medium-sized business expansion and attract more financial investment to Brunei. According to Adanan Yusof of the Ministry of Home Affairs, foreign spouses and their children can apply for citizenship, and he noted that between 1958 and 2005, 42,600 individuals were granted permanent resident status, while emphasising that each country has its own distinct immigration laws.

Pehin Goh, a prominent advocate for the Chinese-Bruneian community and a member of the LegCo, proposed changes to the country's citizenship laws on 12 March 2016. He suggested that stateless individuals born in Brunei should be granted citizenship once they reach fifty-five years of age. Goh stressed that prior to independence, all Bruneians held British passports, but after independence, only those of Malay ancestry were automatically given citizenship. The Minister of Home Affairs, Abu Bakar Apong, responded by noting that the Brunei Nationality Act of 1961 predates the country's independence, and that Chinese-Bruneians had the opportunity to apply for a faster citizenship process during the transition to independence in 1984.

Philanthropy Goh is actively involved in various community-benefiting initiatives. In 2003, he donated B$2.6 million to construct hawker stalls in Kampong Beribi, Gadong, aimed at supporting impoverished and disadvantaged residents. On 20 May 2022, in recognition of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces' 61st anniversary, Goh further demonstrated his commitment to the community by presenting the armed forces with a sponsorship that included 1,000 face masks and 500 bottles of hand sanitizers.

Personal life Pehin Goh is married to Datin Chang Nyuk Kee, and together they have two sons and two daughters. Their son, Jack Goh Kiat Hing, holds the position of director in the family company. Their daughters, Poh Ling and Poh Yeek, are also involved in its administration. At his home in Kampong Sungai Besar, Pehin Goh is known for hosting open houses during Chinese New Year, bringing together family and friends in celebration. Additionally, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei, he was among the first elderly citizens to receive the initial vaccination dosage, demonstrating his commitment to public health and safety.

Titles, styles and honours In April 2004, Goh was bestowed by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah the Manteri title of Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja. Additionally, referred to by Yang Dimuliakan or Yang Berhormat in honorific.

Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) Special Achievement Award (2008)