Before Kossan became one of Malaysia’s leading glove manufacturers, its founder was a boy growing up in a fishing village where following his family into the sea seemed like the only path available.
Tan Sri Dato’ Lim Kuang Sia grew up in Pulau Ketam, surrounded by fishing boats and families whose livelihoods depended on the sea.
But Lim imagined a life beyond the island.
His determination to pursue an education eventually took him to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and London. Years later, the knowledge he gained would help him solve a problem affecting fishing boats and establish Kossan.
What began with only five people has since grown into a Malaysian manufacturing giant exporting its products to more than 130 countries.
A Fisherman’s Son Who Wanted A Different Future
Born into a family of 12 children, Lim spent his early years in Pulau Ketam, Selangor.
His father and grandfather were fishermen. When Lim completed primary school at 13, he was also expected to continue the family tradition.
However, the young Lim was curious about what existed beyond the island.
While fishing boats travelled out to sea, Lim found himself drawn to those heading towards Port Klang and the mainland.
“I wanted to explore and discover the world,” he recalled in an interview.
Leaving Pulau Ketam was not easy. It reportedly took Lim three years before he finally found his way to a secondary school in Kuala Lumpur.
At school, he discovered a natural ability in science and a strong desire to learn.
Education Became His Way Forward
Lim later studied at Nanyang University in Singapore, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1975.
He then travelled to the United Kingdom and completed a postgraduate diploma in chemical engineering at University College London before earning a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Imperial College London in 1977.
After returning to Malaysia, Lim worked as a research and development chemist at a small company producing engineering blueprint paper.
Two years later, an unexpected opportunity changed the direction of his life.
A Problem On A Fishing Boat Inspired Kossan
Fishing boats used rubber cutlass bearings around their propeller shafts to reduce friction and vibration.
At the time, Malaysia depended on imported bearings because no local company manufactured them.
When a friend approached Lim about producing the component locally, he immediately recognised the opportunity. He had used the bearings while working on fishing boats, while his background in chemistry and engineering gave him the knowledge needed to develop his own rubber formulation.
In less than a month, Lim produced a prototype.
With the completed product on his table, he reportedly submitted his resignation and decided to become an entrepreneur.
In 1979, he founded Kossan Rubber Industries with an initial team of only five people.
The company became the first in Malaysia to manufacture rubber cutlass bearings for fishing-boat propellers.
Kossan Did Not Begin As A Glove Company
Kossan initially focused on specialised rubber components. After successfully producing marine bearings, it expanded into rubber rollers and engineered parts for the printing, textile, steel and other industries.
This technical foundation would eventually become one of the company’s greatest strengths.
The opportunity that transformed Kossan into a major global manufacturer came during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, when demand for disposable medical gloves increased rapidly.
Lim travelled to Taiwan to study the machinery and manufacturing process before returning with equipment and customer orders.
In 1988, Kossan shipped its first batch of 10 million gloves to California.
However, the company’s first attempt almost failed.
Its First Glove Venture Almost Ended In Failure
Hundreds of manufacturers entered the glove industry during the same period. Between 1987 and 1990, the Malaysian government reportedly issued around 300 permits for glove factories.
Supply expanded quickly, but demand weakened. By 1991, only about 30 of those factories reportedly remained.
Kossan temporarily closed its glove division and transferred its employees back to the technical-rubber business.
Lim later studied the market again and concluded that disposable gloves had become essential in hospitals, dental clinics and operating rooms.
Kossan returned to glove manufacturing with a more careful and diversified strategy.
The early setback taught Lim to listen to the market, spread risk and prepare for future changes.
Using Science To Solve Industry Problems
As glove use increased, some healthcare workers and patients began experiencing allergic reactions to certain latex gloves.
Lim responded by applying his scientific knowledge to develop hypoallergenic gloves.
Kossan eventually created several specialised products, including synthetic gloves free from certain allergy-causing chemicals, anti-fentanyl permeation gloves and halal-certified medical gloves.
The company also developed the first glove formulation to receive a Low Dermatitis Potential claim from the United States Food and Drug Administration.
In 2022, Kossan became the first company to receive JAKIM halal certification for medical examination gloves under the medical device scheme.
These achievements reflected the strategy that had guided the company since its beginning: using scientific knowledge to solve practical problems.
Kossan: From Five People To A Global Manufacturer
Over the following decades, Kossan expanded into disposable gloves, technical rubber products and cleanroom products.
According to Forbes, the company has the capacity to produce approximately 28 billion gloves annually.
It exports around 80% of its production to more than 130 countries.
Its products are now used across healthcare, automotive, infrastructure, construction, electronics and other specialised industries.
The fisherman’s son who once struggled to leave Pulau Ketam had built a company whose products travelled around the world.
Surviving The Rise And Fall Of The Glove Industry
When COVID-19 spread globally in 2020, demand for medical gloves rose dramatically. Kossan was among the companies that benefited, and the rising value of Lim’s shareholding briefly turned him into a US-dollar billionaire.
However, the boom did not last.
After the pandemic, the glove industry faced excess capacity, falling prices and greater international competition.
Despite these challenges, Kossan remained profitable and continued investing in automation, digitalisation and cost management.
For the 2025 financial year, the company recorded RM1.75 billion in revenue and RM151.31 million in net profit.
Its latest results also show signs of recovery.
For the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, Kossan’s net profit more than doubled to RM64.47 million, while revenue climbed almost 49% to RM568.88 million.
During the first six months of 2026, the company generated RM1.04 billion in revenue and RM103.99 million in net profit.
Building A Legacy Beyond Business
Lim is also the founder and trustee of Yayasan Kossan, which supports education, welfare and community-development initiatives.
He has served in numerous business, education and cultural organisations, including Chinese chambers of commerce, independent schools and the Pulau Ketam Art Association.
Despite how far his journey has taken him, Lim has maintained a connection to the island where it all began.
The story of Kossan did not begin with medical gloves, billions in revenue or a plan to become a global manufacturer.
It began with a fisherman’s son who wanted to discover a world beyond his island.
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