“What I hold on to is God’s love. Love conquers everything. A good heart is the key that opens every door to goodness.”
THESE were the words once spoken by the late YAST Group founder Esther Law Lee Poh when she was interviewed by Suara Sarawak in 2023 — words that today stand as one of the most beautiful legacies left behind by the influential entrepreneur.
Law passed away at the age of 51 at Beijing South Region Oncology Hospital in China on Sunday (June 14) night after a battle with cancer.
Her passing is a big loss to the business and entrepreneurial community, particularly in Sarawak.
Having met the woman who successfully built a business empire spanning multiple sectors, I still remember how every conversation she had about success always began with one thing — her faith in God.
“What made me successful? God. He designed success for me. We are merely ordinary people; everything else comes from God’s blessings and love for me,” she said at the time.
With a spirit of leadership and compassion, Law dedicated more than 25 years of her life to business, motivational work and the arts, earning a respected reputation both locally and internationally.
The versatile entrepreneur held various investments, including companies involved in gold investments, and once headed a cancer hospital in China, a role inspired by witnessing her own mother’s battle against the disease.
“Nearly 90 per cent of my time was spent serving at the cancer hospital in China. After realising the lack of understanding about cancer and its treatments among people in this country, I established the Excellence Medical Information Centre in Malaysia.
“I was the only foreigner serving within China’s healthcare system. I felt it was something truly extraordinary,” she said.
During her decade of service at the hospital, Law successfully led major transformations that enabled the institution to achieve international standards and accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI).
To me, Law was more than just a successful entrepreneur frequently seen on corporate and international stages.
In October 2024, two fellow journalists and I had the opportunity to join a four-day visit to the Selinsing Gold Mine in Lipis District, Pahang, at Law’s invitation.
The experience provided an opportunity to know Law on a more personal level — as someone who was consistently humble, positive and caring towards those around her.
Despite her many achievements on the international stage, she never created a sense of distance between herself and others.
Through numerous interviews, one-on-one meetings and shared lunches, I came to know Law as a kind-hearted, generous individual who always viewed life from a positive perspective.
My final meeting with Esther took place before she departed for Beijing on February 24 this year to undergo cancer treatment.
At the time, Law was still able to speak calmly about the illness she was facing.
There were no complaints, no grievances and certainly no blame directed towards fate.
Instead, she viewed the disease as part of life’s journey — one that had to be faced with courage and unwavering faith.
The words she spoke during that final meeting remain fresh in memory.
“When I recover and return to Kuching, we will meet again and have a thanksgiving meal together,” she said with a smile.
Sadly, that meeting would become the last.
Those words echoed in my mind once again upon receiving news of her passing on Monday (June 15).
Despite achieving remarkable success, Law never regarded herself as a successful person.
Instead, she constantly sought to gain more knowledge and improve herself.
She openly acknowledged being greatly influenced by two world-renowned personal development and leadership figures, John C. Maxwell and Anthony Robbins.
“I searched for answers about success from the right leaders. I was guided by John C. Maxwell through his books and programmes. I also followed Anthony Robbins’ programmes,” she said.
Her passion for learning also led her to travel to 42 countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Monaco, Kuwait and several European nations, broadening both her perspective and life experiences.
Despite her international accomplishments, Law consistently emphasised three key principles to younger generations.
“First, if you want abundant blessings, you must learn. Second, you must take action. Learning alone is not enough. Third, you must share. We learn, we act and we share.
“The more you share, the more blessings will come your way. And pray to God. He will answer your prayers,” she advised.
On March 5, while undergoing treatment in Beijing, Law still found the strength to share a heartfelt reflection through her column in the Sarawak Tribune.
Writing from her hospital bed, she expressed gratitude despite facing a diagnosis of breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes, lungs and abdomen.
She spoke about how the love and support she received from family, friends and many others gave her the strength to keep fighting.
“Cancer has the power to change our perspective on life and make us appreciate every breath we take. Every message of support, hope and love shared with me has transformed this experience into a journey filled with love and strength,” she wrote.
On April 30, as she entered her 62nd day of treatment in Beijing, Law once again shared an update on her condition.
At the time, she was undergoing her third cycle of combination treatment after experiencing difficulty breathing and moving due to advanced-stage breast cancer that had spread to her lungs.
Yet even in such circumstances, she chose to speak about hope, joy and renewal.
Throughout her life, Law received numerous recognitions both locally and internationally. Her global network spanned more than 70 countries, making her one of Sarawak’s most influential women entrepreneurs on the international stage.
However, beyond all the awards and achievements she attained, Law will be remembered as a woman who believed that true success was not measured by wealth or status, but by love, the sharing of knowledge and faith in God.
