ROBERT KUOK HOCK NIEN, Malaysian Business Top 40 Richest M’sians (SUGAR KING - Worth RM32.4b) NOT RELATED to Johore MP Datuk SHAHRIR’s Chinese Wife

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February 24, 2007 19:56 PM

Shahrir Says His Wife Not Related To Robert Kuok

JOHOR BAHARU, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Johor Baharu Member of Parliament Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said today his wife is not related to Malaysia's richest man Tan Sri Robert Kuok, quashing rumours to that effect. "I have a Chinese wife but she is from Ipoh, not from Johor. I am not at all related to him (Robert Kuok). I didn't marry his daughter, I didn't marry his niece and I didn't marry any Kuok. These are all rumours," he said when replying to reporters' questions. Shahrir said Kuok has no daughter and that rumours of him being related to Kuok could have come about due to him (Shahrir) being outspoken on controversial issues.

"Many people think that a politician who makes a lot of noise must be very rich, and that I, because I may have about 10 per cent of the Kuok fortune which is about RM2 billion to RM3 billion, I can afford to say anything that I like," he said after closing a forum on education organised by Johor Baharu Umno, here.

Shahrir said he has known Kuok for many years and was convinced that Johor and the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) can benefit from his wisdom and experience as a businessman. Kuok is one of five advisers of the Iskandar Development Region Authority (IDRA), which held its first meeting yesterday. Shahrir said Kuok could advise the IDRA as to how to go about attracting investment to the IDR. He also said that a local newspaper had contacted him to use his good offices to arrange for an interview with the low-profile businessman but that he would not do it. Asked whether he had been bothered by the rumours, Shahrir said he was not at all bothered by them. "I am actually bothered because I don't have any money. Even though Kuok has no daughter, I know his children. I know his nephews and there are times when I meet them. I am sorry to disappoint you all," he said.

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Got start in 1949 trading rice, sugar and wheat flour. Today heads multinational Kuok Group. His Pacific Carriers Ltd. is a leading dry-bulk shipper in the Pacific basin; his Transmile Group, which transports freight by air, has landing rights in China and India. Also owns 10 Coca-Cola bottling plants in China.

Robert Kuok tops richest M'sian list

His wealth grew to RM32.4b on strong performance of stocks

Published February 17, 2007
(KUALA LUMPUR) Sugar king Robert Kuok Hock Nien topped the Malaysian Business magazine's 40 Richest Malaysians beating his closest rival T Ananda Krishnan. The magazine in its Feb 16 issue puts Mr Kuok's wealth at RM32.4 billion (S$14.2 billion). The Hong Kong-based tycoon added a whopping RM10.86 billion or 50.43 per cent to his vast fortune this year due to the strong performance of his stable of listed stocks.

Former oil trader's holdings include Maxis Communications, Malaysia's largest cell phone service provider; now entering Indian cell phone market with acquisition of 74% stake in Aircel Ltd. for $1.1 billion. His Tanjong Plc.'s subsidiary, Powertek Berhad, paid $300 million for three Egyptian subsidiaries of energy giant EDF in March. Also controls racetrack betting and lottery systems in Malaysia.

Mr Krishnan's fortune increased by about 80 per cent bringing his worth to RM19.7 billion while third-placed and

Heads Hong Leong Group Malaysia, a conglomerate of 14 listed companies traded on various stock exchanges. Includes Asian financial services giant Guoco Group

founder of Hong Leong Group Quek Leng Chan is worth RM10.3 billion this year. Others in the top 10 ranking are

Genting Group founder Lim Goh Tong,

Public Bank chairman Teh Hong Piow,

IOI Corporation executive chairman Lee Shin Cheng,

chairman of the Albukhary Foundation Syed Mokhtar Albukhary,

president, chairman and chief executive of Genting Group Lim Kok Thay and

founder and chairman of Rimbunan Hijau Group Tiong Hiew King.

YTL Corp patriarch Yeoh Tiong Lay is in 10th place after a one-year absence.

Among the notable new entrants was Lee Yeow Seng of IOI Group who at 28 is the youngest tycoon on the list.

The other was Mokhzani Mahathir who propelled in after successfully listing his flagship company, Kencana Petroleum Bhd on the main board of Bursa Malaysia in December 2006.

Other new faces on the list are Lee Soon Hian of Batu Kawan Bhd and

Ya'acobTunku Abdullah of MAA Holdings Bhd who is back after a year's absence. Overall, the majority of tycoons saw their paper wealth rise in 2007 due to a rebound in the stock market and rising property and commodity prices, Malaysian Business said in

a statement here yesterday.
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Thursday February 22, 2007

Five ‘giants’ to look into Johor’s IDR; STAR

AN advisory committee comprising five Malaysian “heavyweights” has been set up to look into the development of Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Johor. IDR is the new economic growth corridor named after the Sultan of Johor. In an exclusive front-page report, Sin Chew Daily said that the five were Tan Sri Robert Kuok Hock Nien, Andrew Sheng, Tun Musa Hitam, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman and Tan Sri Kishu Tirathai. They will provide constructive views on how to lure foreign investments and turn the growth corridor into an attractive investment centre.

ABOVE: Group photo after IRD advisory Board Meeting: PM Abdullah flanked by MB Johore Ghani on his left and Tun Musa Hitam on his right. on the extreme right is Tan Sri Robert Kuok and on the extreme Left is Tan Sri Kishu Tirathai.

BELOW: Tan Sri Robert Kuok with Andrew Sheng

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was said to have handpicked the five, who enjoy international recognition, said Sin Chew. According to the daily, the five, all Johoreans, have agreed to be on the committee. Kuok is South-East Asia’s richest man popularly known as “The Sugar King” for his early success in the sugar refinery business. Sheng was the former chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission while Musa was a former deputy Prime Minister. Samsudin is the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) board chairman while Kishu is the owner of Globe Silk Store. According to the daily, Kuok’s inclusion was vital because of his extensive global business network, especially in China.

More importantly, Kwok himself was supportive of the new committee, the daily said.
It quoted sources as saying that Abdullah wanted the five to give their honest opinions and not be mere “yes men” when asked for their views on certain policies.

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Saturday February 24, 2007; Advisers positive about project; STAR
JOHOR BARU: The advisers to the Iskandar Development Region Authority (IDRA) – all five influential figures in the corporate world – emerged from their meeting confident about the project, but stressed that proper implementation and continuous revision were vital to its success. Describing the meeting as “fantastic”, former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam said that it was important that the project avoid being Johor-centric despite its location.

“We must recognise that within the context of globalisation, at worst we should think of ourselves as a regional development project. Not in terms of the Malaysian region (alone) but a region that caters to a wider world,” he said. Former Bank Negara director Tan Sri Kishu Tirathrai said that the advisory council would strategise the project’s direction at its six-monthly meetings. He called the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) a living plan for the century. Kishu also said that the plan was to expand the Malaysian economy beyond the Klang Valley, which had led to its congestion.

Former chief secretary to the government and present chairman of the Employees Provident Fund Board and Investment Panel, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, pledged to bring his knowledge of bureaucracy to get things moving faster. Former chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission Datuk Seri Andrew Sheng said that Malaysia was headed in the right direction, being able to tap into its relatively small population, rich natural resources and strategic location. “Although there may be bumps along the way, the opportunities for growth are very good,” he said.

The fifth member of the council is Tan Sri Robert Kuok, Asia’s richest man with an estimated net worth of US$5bil (RM17.4bil), from Johor Baru.
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Saturday February 24, 2007

PM: IDR must be competitive to draw investors
By NELSON BENJAMIN, ZAZALI MUSA and MEERA VIJAYAN

JOHOR BARU: The Iskandar Development Region (IDR), which is set to become a new global growth centre, must be prepared to be globally competitive to draw investors and businessmen. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the IDR has to survive on its own ability and high standards of performance based on efficiency, integrity and good governance. “There is no way to expect sympathy from anybody. “They will have to work hard to compete with everybody as competition is a challenge we must face,” he said, referring to the other global growth areas coming up around the world.

Abdullah said that networking with other global growth centres would also benefit IDR while services and work offered must also be of high quality. “We must take advantage of our low cost and the ample space that we have,” he told reporters after the launch of the inaugural Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) meeting at the Pulai Springs Resort here yesterday. “We must attract investment from everywhere including the United States, Europe and the Middle East,” he said, adding that the country was also prepared to employ international professionals with the necessary skills. The Prime Minister also witnessed the MoU signing ceremony for the building of a hotel and a resort in the development region.

As to how he would measure the success of IDR, Abdullah said: “The presence of global players and the presence of good companies including foreign managers and professionals will be a good indicator.” Initial projections showed that IDR is expected to attract a total of US$105bil (RM370bil) in 20 years. In the short term, it is supposed to attract some RM50bil in investments within five years. IRDA is the statutory body responsible for determining the direction, policies and strategies in relation to development within the IDR. Jointly headed by co-chairmen Abdullah and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, the IRDA consists of five other members. It will also have a council of five eminent persons to advise it on various matters regarding future development.

The advisory council will include five of the state’s most prominent figures – Tan Sri Robert Kuok Hock Nien, Datuk Seri Andrew Sheng, Tun Musa Hitam, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman and Tan Sri Kishu Tirathrai. On the appointment of the five, Abdullah said that he was happy to get their frank views and did not impose any restrictions or barriers to what they could bring up. “All of them agree that there is a lot of potential for this project,” he said.

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February 22, 2007 19:04 PM

Iskandar Regional Development Issues Main Focus Of PM's Visit

JOHOR BAHARU, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- Iskandar Regional Development issues are to feature prominently during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's one day visit to Johor Friday. Soon after arrival at the Sultan Ismail International Airport in Senai at about 8.15am, Abdullah will head straight to Pulai Springs Resort to attend the Iskandar Regional Development Authority's board meeting. After the meeting, Abdullah will chair the authority's advisory council meeting and witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the same venue. The Iskandar Regional Development, encompassing several districts in Johor, is the southern region's development corridor which will see its transformation into an international metropolis like Hong Kong and Shenzhen in China. In the evening, Abdullah will launch the Nusajaya-Regional City at Nusajaya Centre in Nusajaya before returning to Kuala Lumpur.