The wife of one of Malaysia's richest men, who was a popular Hong Kong TV personality before marrying tycoon Francis Yeoh, has died after a long battle with cancer, the family said today.

Rosaline Chan, who married the YTL Corporation chief in 1982, passed away with her family at her bedside, a spokeswoman told AFP . She was 54.

The couple had five children aged 24 to 13. Chan was known for her support to charitable organisations and the arts community in Malaysia.

The family spokeswoman said Malysian Prime Minster Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would visit Yeoh at his residence in Kuala Lumpur to pay his condolences to the family.

YTL Corporation is one of Malaysia's top infrastructure conglomerates.

Rosaline reportedly assisted Yeoh in his business by designing interiors for some of YTL's best-known projects including Pangkor Laut Resort, an exclusive seaside getaway on the north western coast of Malaysia.