Top Tycoon in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Robert Kuok, the Kuok Group patriarch who relinquished his “Sugar King” crown last year, still tops the list of 40 richest people in Malaysia, followed by telecommunication tycoon Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan.

Collectively, the country’s 40 richest people recorded an increase in their fortunes totalling RM156.7bil as at Jan 15, or 63% more than the RM96.3bil a year ago, on the back of a recovery in the stock market, aMalaysian Business survey reveals.

However, according to the fortnightly magazine’s survey results released in a statement yesterday, their combined wealth was still less than the RM171.9bil recorded in 2008.

The benchmark FBM KLCI rose 44.3% since its last survey as the world strives to get back on its feet following the global financial crisis.

The full list of the 40 tycoons and details of their wealth are published in the magazine’s Feb 16 issue.

As in the previous year, the wealth of the Top 40 was assessed based on the value of their stakes in listed companies as at Jan 15 this year.

The survey also revealed that close to half on this year’s list recorded jumps of 50% or more. There are also more billionaires — 22, eight more than last year.

Media-shy and telecommunication tycoon Ananda Krishnan ranked second, clocking in at RM27bil.

IOI Corporation Bhd’s Tan Sri Lee Shin Chen was third with RM11.92bil, followed by prominent banker Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow at RM10.86bil.

Genting Group’s Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, valued at RM10.38bil, leapt a full 10 spots to No. 5. This was because he assumed a large chunk of the wealth of his late father, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong.

Hong Leong Group’s Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan took the sixth spot at RM7.09bil while Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary of the Albukhary Foundation, valued at RM6.01bil, was seventh.

Others in the Top 10 ranking were Lim Goh Tong’s widow Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua, Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King of Rimbunan Hijau Group and Tan Sri Vincent Tan of Berjaya Group.

There were five newcomers in the list — Lee Swee Eng of the KNM Group, brothers Datuk Shahril Shamsuddin and Shahriman of Sapura, Datuk Seri Nazir Razak of CIMB Group and OSK Holdings’ Ong Leong Huat, who makes a comeback to the list after a one-year absence

Kenshido & USM collaboration for I-teacher Development

PENANG, 31 Jan: In line with its mission of knowledge sharing, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) today introduced the ‘I-Teacher’, to help school students in their learning process.

The ‘I-Teacher’ was produced after three years of research by Prof. Hanafi Atan, a lecturer from the School of Distance Education, USM. The ‘I-Teacher’ is expected to be marketed through collaboration with e-Educator Sdn. Bhd and Kenshido International Sdn. Bhd, two companies involved in education technology.

The internet-based product is equipped with software that is in accordance with the syllabus of the Ministry of Education. In addition, it is supported by interactive animation, elements of avatar guidance, slide shows and monitoring of the student’s progress.

Currently, the ‘I-Teacher’ has been designed to help students in Forms 4 and 5 prepare for the Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia.

The ‘I-Teacher’ and ‘SCORE-A’, another educational product by Kenshido International Sdn. Bhd., were launched by the Governor of Penang, T.Y.T. Tun Dato’ Seri Utama (Dr.) Hj. Abdul Rahman bin Hj. Abbas. During his speech, he said that the launching of innovative products by any university for the benefit of society is always eagerly awaited.

”Furthermore, it involves educational products for school students. As we all know, education for adolescents is an important aspect in the development of the nation. As such, this is a great success,” he said.

He also said that the style of learning has to be reexamined and adapted to the current needs, requirements and environment of students in the ICT era.

“There is a new generation known as ‘Digital Natives’, born in the late ‘70s and who have grown up in an environment that is technologically developed. Any product or service that is offered must take into account the need to fulfill the requirements of these ‘Digital Natives’,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) representing the Vice-Chancellor of USM said that the university has always given importance to efforts towards developing research products for commercialization.

“USM for example, has channelled research funding such as the ‘Research University’ Research Grant, Short-Term Research Grant, Incentive Grant and others to enable these efforts to be carried out. The Ministry of Higher Education too has been very helpful in this aspect.The commercialisation of research products is a KPI that has to be achieved so that funds can be channelled to academic staff. The development of the ‘I-Teacher’ through a research grant from USM and the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation is an achievement that we are very proud of,” he said.

The launching ceremony also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between USM and e-Educator Sdn. Bhd as well as a MoU between e-Educator Sdn. Bhd and Kenshido International Sdn. Bhd.

Also present at the event were Assoc. Prof. Habibah Hj. Lateh, Dean of the School of Distance Education; Mr. Jason Kok, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Kenshido International Sdn. Bhd; and En. Abdul Shukor, Director of e-Educator Sdn. Bhd.



Picture: INNOVATION FOR NATIONAL EDUCATION… T.Y.T. Tun Dato’ Seri Utama (Dr.) Haji Abdul Rahman Abbas pressing the key on the laptop to launch the ‘I-Teacher’ and ‘SCORE-A’ in USM today. Looking on are Prof. Ahmad Shukri (second, right), Assoc. Prof. Habibah (far right) and En. Abdul Shukor (left). Also present is Mr. Jason Kok.