KUALA LUMPUR (April 22): The "beneficiary" of 70% residual estate of Genting founder Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong's youngest daughter had "no knowledge" that it was worth about RM1 billion, the High Court heard on Wednesday.
On the stand at the trial on the inheritance dispute over RM1.6 billion in assets of the late Lim Siew Kim, Datuk Low Beng Choo — who came into the 70% residual estate via Dikim Foundation — also testified that she had "no knowledge" that percentage was a big chunk of valuable assets.
Low, a lawyer who was also the drafter of two out of three versions of the disputed wills, said that she could not agree with the suggestion by the plaintiffs' counsel Datuk Seri V Sithambaram that Dikim was a major beneficiary, as she did not know the full picture of Siew Kim's assets and liabilities.
Sithambaram: Dikim Foundation in the third will is the beneficiary of 70% of residue estate worth RM1 billion?
Low: I have no knowledge of the value.
Sithambaram: [You agree with me] 70% is a huge valuable asset?
Low: I have no knowledge.
Sithambaram: Do you agree that according to the third will, Dikim is the major beneficiary of the deceased’s estate?
Low: I cannot agree with you because I have no knowledge of the entire assets and liabilities of the deceased.
Dikim Foundation — so named as an amalgamation of Siew Kim and her late husband Dick Chan Teik Huat’s names — is a public company limited by guarantee which was founded in 1983.
Based on a document search by The Edge, according to the latest Companies Commission of Malaysia filings registered on Aug 18, 2025, the last available financial statement for Dikim was for the financial year ended March 31, 2021.
Dikim's total assets were RM525,609, while its liabilities were RM104,438. Its total equity was RM421,171.
The foundation is said to primarily carry out welfare work. Previously, Low had said that she took the position of the trustee following Siew Kim's "repeated requests". Low assumed the role from June 2, 2022.
Low also testified that she did not need to know the full extent of Siew Kim's assets in order to draft the will.
Sithambaram: So you drafted the will without knowing the entire assets of the deceased?
Low: My Lady (addressing the judge), we do not need to know [...]
Sithambaram: So you drafted the will without knowing the full assets of the deceased?
Low: Yes.
Low is currently the sole trustee of the foundation
Low also disagreed that it was common for at least one member of the family to be appointed as a trustee of the foundation.
Following the demise of Siew Kim and another trustee Datuk Abdul @ Abdul Kayoom Mustakim, Low emerged as the sole trustee of the foundation.
She testified that she had no knowledge of whether Dikim was a dormant company since 2010, and added that she was not involved in its operations.
Low also said that she had no knowledge on whether Dikim had not been operating as a charity organisation since 2010.
Siew Kim, who is the Genting Group of Companies founder's third child, passed away due to cancer in July 2022. The 73-year-old left behind three daughters and a son.
The battle for the inheritance was taken to court when Siew Kim's daughters Chan T'Shiao Li, 47, and Kimberly Chan T'Shiao Miin, 44, filed the suit in 2023.
The sisters claim that they had discovered two other wills — dated Nov 2, 2021, and April 11, 2022 — following their mother's death.
A third and final will, which was executed, is dated April 28, 2022.
They claim that the short time span between the second and third will gave rise to a suspicious circumstance surrounding the preparation and making of the final testament.
They also claim that it's not clear why their mother was made to execute her last will hastily, especially since she was not in a position to do so following her deteriorated mental and physical condition.
Their brother, Marcus Chan, who is also a defendant in the suit, was left with properties in Jalan Ampang, shareholding in Mantap Awana Sdn Bhd, contents of all safe deposit boxes, and 30% of Siew Kim's residuary estate.
T'Shiao Li was left with RM900,000, while T'Shiao Miin got RM100,000.
Low, who is a practising lawyer with 40-odd years of experience, denied all allegations of her involvement in the purported "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the will.
She has also said that she merely executed her involvement in all three wills based on "the very instructions" of the deceased. The last will, she said, faithfully reflects Siew Kim's wishes, despite the daughters' dissatisfaction.
On Wednesday, Low also testified that she had shredded the second will. In her witness statement, she had said that she had done so as instructed by the deceased.
Siew Kim was a 'meticulous' person
Low testified that in her many years of working with Siew Kim and her companies — as well as Siew Kim’s husband and his companies — the deceased paid close attention to details.
Sithambaram: The deceased always gave her views and opinions on legal matters [in which you] acted for her?
Low: Yes, she had her own views.
Sithambaram: And it's correct to say that when taking instruction prepping documents — will after will after will — she seemed to pay close attention?
Low: I only prepared two [wills] and yes, I received instructions from her.
Sithambaran: She paid close attention?
Low: Yes.
The trial before High Court judge Mahazan Mat Taib continues on Thursday.