George Goh Ching Wah (Chinese: 吴振华; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Chín-hôa; Hokkien pronunciation [ɡɔ˨˦t͡ɕin˦˨hua˨˦]; born 25 November 1959) is a Malaysian-born Singaporean businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former diplomat who is the chairman of Ossia International and the founder of Harvey Norman Ossia. He had served as Singapore Non-Resident Ambassador to Morocco between 2017 and 2023.
On 18 August 2023, the Elections Department announced that Goh did not qualify to run for the presidential election and therefore did not receive the Certificate of Eligibility.
Early life and education
Born in Negeri Sembilan during the era of the Federation of Malaya, Goh was one of the eight children in his family.[2] Due to his family's financial situation, Goh dropped out of school and moved to Singapore, having started working at the age of 16, to support his family.[2] Goh found a job as a sweeper and general worker on a weekly salary of $15 at a shoe factory in Geylang.[3]
In 2022, Goh graduated in music performance[4] from Trinity College London after having studied music, specializing in classical singing.[5]
Business career
Throughout his career, Goh has owned several listed companies, including Ossia International, Harvey Norman Ossia, and United EnviroTech.[6][7][8]
Goh started DeClassici Shoe Manufacturer in 1982, in a factory at Bartley Road, producing 30 pairs of leather shoes every month.[3]
In 1990, he co-founded Ossia International Limited and serves as its group chairman.[6] In 1996, Ossia was publicly listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.[9]
Later that year, Ossia established a property division, Ossia Land. In the following year, Goh collaborated with Waterbank Properties, NatSteel Properties, and a LSE-listed company Regalion Properties as a part of Ossia Land's venture.[10]
In 1999, Goh partnered Gerry Harvey of multi-national retailer Harvey Norman to establish a S$33 million joint venture named Harvey Norman Ossia (Asia) to retail the Harvey Norman brand in Asia.[7]
In 2000, Goh founded ITG International, an internet technology company that expanded into property development in 2005.[11] In 2002, Goh founded VGO Corporation (World of Sport). VGO Corp carried out an acquisition of a mixed property development group of companies in Malaysia in 2017.[12][13]
Goh is an executive board member of the Presbyterian Community Services.[18] He is an advisor to the Puan Noor Aishah Intercultural Institute and served as a board member of the Creative Malay Arts and Culture.
In 2015, Goh and his wife co-founded Border Mission Limited,[20] a charity organisation that supports those in need in Singapore, the Himalayan region and developing countries. The ‘Happy People Helping People’,[21] a prominent community group dedicated to helping the elderly poor, has also backed Goh's presidential bid.[22][23][24]
On 12 June 2023, Goh announced his intention to run for the 2023 presidential election under the private sector deliberative track.[16][25]
On 18 August 2023, the Elections Department announced that Goh did not qualify to run for the presidential election and therefore did not receive the Certificate of Eligibility.[26][27]
Personal life
At age 24, Goh married Tan Nan Ci, with whom he had three children. Tan died of pancreatic cancer when she was the age of 40. In 2001, Goh married his second wife, Lysa Sumali, with whom he had a daughter.[28]
