KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Group marked its 70th anniversary with the launch of the “Beyond 70” initiative on July 7, an event that celebrated the company’s legacy while mapping its vision for the future.
Addressing a global audience of 16,000 employees across 11 countries, both in-person and via livestream, its Executive Chairman Tan Sri (Sir) Francis Yeoh reflected on YTL’s remarkable journey from a Malaysian family business to a diversified global entity spanning physical infrastructure to digital and AI ecosystems.
He emphasized that while growth in size is evident, it must always be accompanied by “depth in values.”
“Today, we launch ‘Beyond 70’ not only to celebrate our 70th anniversary but to look ahead to the next 70 years with vision and sobriety,” he said.
Calling the moment a “profound inflection point,” Yeoh acknowledged a generational shift underway in the company’s leadership.
“The founding leadership — myself included — continues to set strategic direction, but increasingly, the day-to-day stewardship is being passed to the next generation.
“This is intentional. And it is necessary,” he said.
Yeoh shared that his ultimate aim is not only to build a successful company, but “to leave behind a resilient legacy — a company that will flourish long after we are gone.”
In continuing that legacy, Yeoh addressed the company’s younger generation, particularly Gen Z, encouraging them to embrace perseverance in their pursuit of purpose.
He urged younger colleagues to recognise that impact takes time and that meaning is forged over years, not moments.
“Many of our colleagues have served faithfully with us for 30 or 40 years. They may not have felt “purpose” every day, especially during the difficult seasons. But looking back, their stories are woven into the very fabric of the YTL legacy.
“When we invested decades ago in sectors like power, water, cement, and telecommunications, we couldn’t have foreseen that these would one day become the building blocks of global AI infrastructure. Today, through our partnership with NVIDIA, we are at the frontier of this new revolution — not by chasing trends, but by being faithful in our long-term vision,” he said.
Yeoh highlighted some recent achievements that YTL is thankful for, including being ranked as the Best Managed Malaysian Conglomerate by FinanceAsia, following votes from the investment community; being ranked number 46 in the South East Asian Fortune 500 list, placing it among the top 50 companies in the region based on revenue performance; and improved FTSE4Good scores for YTL Corp (3.8 from 3.3), YTL Power (3.4 from 3.1), and YTL Hospitality REIT (3.0 from 2.7), reflecting stronger sustainability and corporate governance.
Yeoh also paid tribute to the company’s “unsung heroes” — long-serving employees who “toiled unseen,” made difficult decisions, and remained faithful during turbulent times.
Concluding his speech, Yeoh reminded those present that their roles are not of ownership, but stewardship.
“We come with nothing, we leave with nothing,” he said.
“The YTL legacy was handed to us, and we will hand it on again. What we build now is not just for profit or prestige, but for posterity.”
He called on the YTL family to reflect on what ‘Beyond 70’ truly means, not just in terms of metrics or share price, but in the “deeper currency of faithfulness, integrity, and purpose.”
Ends.
