Tan, whose company was behind major landmarks in Malaysia and abroad, including the Shangri-La Hotel and Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, Queen Victoria Building in Sydney and shopping malls in Singapore, was one of the richest men in Malaysia.
Forbes’ 2018 ranking put him as the 45th richest in Malaysia, with a net worth of US$355 million (RM1.5 billion).
Tan’s IGB, which he founded together with his late brother Tan Kim Yeow, was a pioneer in the construction of condominiums and serviced apartments in Malaysia, and behind the Ipoh Garden, one of the earliest housing estates in Ipoh.
Tan had an avid interest in horse racing and won many Australian races including the Melbourne Cup on four occasions.
He was also known for promoting chess as a competition in China in the mid-1970s, just as the ban on the game was eased after decades of disapproval by the communist regime.