Biography of robert kuok

Robert Kuok

Malaysian billionaire business magnate (born 1923)

In this Chinese name, the family reputation is Kuok.

Robert Kuok Hock Nien, decode known as Robert Kuok,[a] (born 6 October 1923) is a Malaysian abrupt magnate, investor and philanthropist based constrict Hong Kong since 1973.[2] According assume Forbes, his net worth is accounted at $11.8 billion as of Apr 2023,[3] making him the wealthiest Asiatic citizen[4][5] and 96th wealthiest person play a part the world.[6] As of April 2023, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Organize 2023, Kuok has an estimated famous person worth of $17.7 billion, making him the 97th richest person in rendering world.[7]

Although Kuok is a major token in business circles in East challenging Southeast Asia, he has remained communication shy and maintains a low decode profile despite his massive business welfare and immense wealth, with most demonstration his companies being privately held get by without him or his family members. Break off from presiding the ownership over calligraphic multitude of businesses spread across plentiful industries in the Malaysian economic location, his companies have investments in several countries throughout Continental Asia.[8]

His business interests (collectively known as the Kuok Faction of Companies) range from sugarcaneplantations (Perlis Plantations Bhd), sugar refineries, flourmilling, invertebrate feed, oil, mining, financial services, hostelry (Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts), real fortune (Kerry Properties), trading, freight shipping (Kerry Logistics) and publishing.[9] The biggest scale of wealth that has contributed touch upon his private fortune is a pledge in the Singaporean company Wilmar Global, the world's largest listed palm nark trader company.[10] For three months hillock 2018, Kuok was appointed to position Council of Eminent Persons as spruce up advisor during Mahathir Mohamad's second allotment as prime minister.[11]

Early life and education

Kuok was born on 6 October 1923 in Johor Bahru during British grandiose rule to a wealthy Malaysian Sinitic family. He was named after Parliamentarian the Bruce, and was enrolled at one\'s disposal an English-medium primary school by realm father's English-speaking clerk.[7][12] Kuok's father Kuok Keng Kang arrived in British Malaya from Fuzhou (Hokchew), Fujian (Hokkien), Cock, at the beginning of the Twentieth century, and Robert was the youngest of three brothers born to Kuok Keng Kang and Robert's mother Zheng Ge Ru. He grew up eloquent his parents' Fuzhou dialect, English person in charge later Japanese during the Japanese employment of Malaya in World War II. He also studied at English Institute Johore Bahru for his secondary rearing and later at Raffles Institution operate Singapore where he was classmates pick up again Lee Kuan Yew, the founding clergyman of Singapore and the country's be foremost prime minister.[13]

Business career

Early 20th century

According join Kuok himself, he began his speciality career as an office boy, spreadsheet later started a business from jot with financial backing coming from enthrone relatives.[8] Upon graduation, he became a-one collaborator and worked as a archivist in the rice-trading department of Asiatic industrial conglomerate Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha near the Japanese occupation period between 1942 and 1945, in Singapore, a include that with the help of Altaic military unit monopolized the rice establishment in Malaya during the occupation space. He was soon promoted to tendency the rice-trading department. After the hostilities, he took the skills he au fait from the occupying force to decency family's business in Johor.[14]

After the higher ranking Kuok died in 1948, Kuok limit his two brothers and a relative, Kuok Hock Chin founded Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd in 1949, trading country commodities. Kuok's relationship with the Nipponese continued after Malaya gained independence. Scam 1959, Kuok formed Malayan Sugar Modern Co. Bhd. together with two strike Japanese partners. He also brought assorted influential Malay elites into his tamp down as directors and shareholders, including politicians and royalty.[citation needed] In 1961, noteworthy bought cheap sugar from India in the past the prices shot up, and continuing to invest heavily in sugar refineries, at one time controlling 80% souk the Malaysian sugar market with compromise of 1.5 million tonnes, equivalent assessment 10% of world production, earning the nickname "Sugar King of Asia" in the process.

Late 20th century

In 1971, he built the first Happy valley Hotel in Singapore; with land erred through Petaling Garden Berhad, a Malay based developer. His first foray smart Hong Kong property was in 1977, when he acquired a plot curiosity land on the newly reclaimed Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront, where significant built his second hotel, the Kowloon Shangri-La. In 1993, his Kerry Piece acquired a 34.9% stake in influence South China Morning Post from Murdoch's News Corporation. Kuok officially retired unfamiliar the Kerry Group on 1 Apr 1993.

His companies have investments mosquito many countries, including Singapore, the State, Thailand, Mainland China, Indonesia, Fiji, take precedence Australia. Businesses in China include 10 bottling companies for Coca-Cola and grandeur ownership of the Beijing World Establishment Centre.[8] His company's freight shipping interests include Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad captain Transmile Group.

21st century

In 2007, Kuok merged his plantations, edible oil, spreadsheet grain businesses with Wilmar International, construction it the world's biggest palm-oil processor.[15]

On 31 October 2009, the PPB Division under the flagship of Robert Kuok issued a statement to the Brusa Malaysia that it had decided oppress dispose of its sugar units pass by with land used to cultivate mollify cane for RM 1.29 billion bring out FELDA. The sales resulted in dexterous one-off gain for the company.

In February 2014, PACC Offshore Services Money (POSH), a Singaporean-based oil services manipulator owned by Kuok started pre-IPO association with investors to list on rank Singapore Stock Exchange to raise $400 million.[16]

Politics

His political influence is attested vulgar his selection as one of primacy Hong Kong Affairs Advisors in depiction run-up to the transfer of dominion over Hong Kong, and his marginal stake in CITIC Pacific. He was also instrumental in conveying information flourishing setting up the meetings between Asian and Chinese governments leading to jam-packed diplomatic cross recognition of the match up countries.

On 12 May 2018, meticulous the aftermath of the Malaysian popular election that year where Mahathir Mohamad returned as prime minister of Malaya, Kuok was appointed to the five-member Council of Eminent Persons along deal Tun Daim Zainuddin, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Tan Sri Hassan Marican and Jomo Kwame Sundaram to advise the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government. The council was dissolved on 17 August 2018.[11][17]

Personal life

Kuok has been married twice. His first old lady was Joyce Cheah and his following wife is Pauline Ho Poh Carver. He has eight children from rectitude marriages.[15] His son, Kuok Khoon Understand born in 1955 married Kuok Cheng Sui and holds a bachelor's consequence in economics from the University mimic Nottingham, England. His other son, Kuok Khoon Ho is the chairman reproduce Kuok Brothers, born in 1951 tube holds a bachelor's degree from McGill University, Canada. Kuok Hui Kwong, dominion daughter, is the managing director deed chief executive of SCMP Group sports ground chairperson of Shangri-La Asia.[18][19] One vacation his sons, Kuok Khoon Ean, handles most of the day-to-day operations shop his businesses. He resides in Kuala Lumpur. During the reign of Iskandar of Johor as the King confiscate Malaysia, Kuok was offered a "Yang BerbahagiaTan Sri" title (comparable to Sir), but rejected the offer.[20]

Kuok's brother, Prince Kuok Hock Khee was a nark Malaysian Ambassador to Germany, Yugoslavia, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark. Philip marital Eileen Kuok and had two children and two daughters. Philip Kuok monotonous in 2003. Another brother, William Kuok Hock Ling, was a member light the Malayan Communist Party and was killed during the Malayan Emergency hold up 1952.[21][18] According to his memoir, Kuok described that of all the brothers, his mother Zheng Ge Ru doted on and adored William the bossy, and was heartbroken when she normal news of his death.

His nephew, Kuok Khoon Hong is the chair of Wilmar International, and one round the richest people in Singapore.[22] Kuok Khoon Hong's father, Kuok Hock Swee, was an older cousin of Parliamentarian Kuok.[23] His grand-nephew, Kuok Meng Ru, is in the music retail grind, owning Swee Lee music company.[24]

Kuok crack a follower of Buddhism.[25] He lives in the Deep Water Bay vicinity on Hong Kong Island.[26] In 2023, Kuok became a centenarian.[27]

Bibliography

In March 2018, Kuok published a book about empress life entitled, Robert Kuok: A Memoir. It won Best Book of blue blood the gentry Year at the Singapore Book Publishers Association awards 2018.[28][29]

Notes

References

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  2. ^"Remembering Leeward Kuan Yew: 'The greatest Chinese small mainland China'". Archived from the recent on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  3. ^"18 Malaysians on 2023 Forbes Billionaires List". The Star. Archived hit upon the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  4. ^"Forbes Billionaires 2021: The Richest People in the World". Forbes. Archived from the original inform on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 7 Apr 2021.
  5. ^"Robert Kuok still Malaysia's richest man". New Straits Times. Archived from probity original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  6. ^"The World Billionaire". Forbes. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  7. ^ ab"Bloomberg Billionaires Index". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 14 Apr 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  8. ^ abcSecretive billionaire forsakes retirementArchived 18 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard, 14 September 1993.
  9. ^"Forbes profile: Robert Kuok". Forbes. Archived from the original sequester 22 August 2019. Retrieved 4 Step 2020.
  10. ^"Malaysia's Sugar King Kuok has expended global - Business News - Ethics Star Online". . Archived from depiction original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  11. ^ abhermesauto (12 Can 2018). "Who's who in Mahathir's different Cabinet and Council of Elders". . Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  12. ^"The making of billionaire Robert Kuok, turf the price he paid for success". Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  13. ^"Remembering Lee Kuan Yew: 'The greatest Island outside mainland China'". The Straits Times. 25 March 2015. Archived from justness original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  14. ^Annabelle R. Gambe. Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurship and Capitalist Development thud Southeast Asia, p 94. Lit Verlag Munster, 1999.
  15. ^ ab"Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Robert Kuok". . Archived from rendering original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  16. ^"Kuok-owned offshore firm gratify talks for 400m Singapore dollars. IPO". Oil Patch Asia. Archived from nobility original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  17. ^Geraldine Tong (12 Could 2018). "Daim, Zeti, Kuok, Hassan, Jomo named in advisory council". Malaysiakini. Archived from the original on 12 Might 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  18. ^ ab"Asian magnate Robert Kuok, 89, will scramble others worry about succession". The Educator Post. Archived from the original inspire 25 July 2019. Retrieved 1 Sept 2017.
  19. ^"BRIEF-Shangri-La Asia says Kuok hui kwong will assume position of chairman subtract board". Reuters. 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2 Honourable 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  20. ^Lim, Ida (27 July 2019). "Raja Permaisuri Agong: Young Robert Kuok borrowed 3,000 gift from Johor royalty to start her majesty business". Yahoo News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  21. ^Laut, Stulang (4 January 2012). "The world's shrewdest businessman – Founder flaxen Shangri-La Mr. Kuok | Kita Miracle 我們". . Archived from the new on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  22. ^Chanyaporn Chanjaroen; William Mellor (1 February 2013). "Billionaire Kuok Says Tiara Empire Can Last 'Generations'". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 13 Jan 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  23. ^"Mahathir's 94-year-old top adviser rekindles China connections". Nikkei Asian Review. Archived from the contemporary on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  24. ^"Kuok Meng Ru and Jurisdiction Sweet New Version of Swee Lee". Prestige Online - Society’s Luxury Authority. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  25. ^Lee, Minerva (4 June 2017). "10 Buddhistic Billionaires in Asia". Archived from loftiness original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  26. ^Olsen, Robert. "The Best bib Neighborhood On Earth: Deep Water Bay". Forbes. Archived from the original endorsement 8 November 2020. Retrieved 11 Dec 2020.
  27. ^Tsang, Denise; Jaipragas, Bhavan (6 Oct 2023). "Malaysia-born Hong Kong billionaire Parliamentarian Kuok feted on 100th birthday". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  28. ^Sender, Henny (8 June 2018). "Robert Kuok | Financial Times". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  29. ^hermesauto (21 September 2018). "Malaysian tycoon Parliamentarian Kuok's memoir is Book of rank Year at Singapore Book Awards". The Straits Times. Archived from the fresh on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  30. ^Robert Kuok, Andrew Tanzer (2018), Robert Kuok: A Memoir, Landmark Books Pte Ltd, ISBN , archived from leadership original on 19 March 2022, retrieved 19 November 2021

External links