The madness of attacking Robert Kuok

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 26 Feb 2018 7:30PM · 10 Comments

Sugar tycoon Robert Kuok's recently released book: Robert Kuok, A Memoir. It is unthinkable for Umno leaders to attack Kuok for funding the opposition since they have massively benefited from the businessman's connections. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 26, 2018.

SCHIZOPHRENIA is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to think and behave clearly.

It could be affecting an increasing number of Umno politicians and those charged with charting the ruling party’s strategy in the run-up to 14th general election (GE14).

‎Has to be.

How else do we explain this sudden fixation with turning Robert Kuok, a billionaire who once called Malaysia home, into a villain?

Apparently, he is interested in dictating the outcome of the polls.

Apparently, he is funding the enemies of Barisan Nasional (BN), including the DAP.

But here’s the irony: over the years, it is the senior Umno politician who has beaten a path to Hong Kong to pay homage to Kuok. Some of them owe their first luxury watch to him while others were beneficiaries of his kindness when their families fell on hard times.

More recently, they have urged and pleaded with him to invest in the Iskandar economic corridor and other projects in Malaysia. On occasions, they have tried to ride on his powerful cables in Beijing.

At other times, ruling party politicians and senior executives of Malaysia’s government-linked companies have clamoured for hour-long meetings just to pick his brains.

Indeed, it has been a badge of honour for Umno/BN politicians and Malaysia’s corporate elite to boast about having lunch or a cup of tea with Robert Kuok.

He knows much about Malaysia’s ruling elite and only a fraction of that was touched upon in his recently-released memoirs, Robert Kuok, A Memoir.

His pungent observation about how the country’s development had gone off the rails and candid views on the New Economic Policy did not go down well with Umno politicians.

But many of the senior ruling party officials refrained from hitting back, perhaps constrained by the fact of how much the tycoon knows about them.

Only some lightweight Umno politicians took exception with Kuok’s views about modern day Malaysia. Even then, the mainstream media glossed over those comments.

Yet, someone in Umno’s war room has now decided to paint Kuok as the money machine behind DAP and the man behind moves to bring down the BN government.

Yes, GE14 is about who can win the biggest slice of the Malay vote. But trying to paint one of Asia’s most respected tycoons as anti-establishment and a puppet master smacks of desperation and clutching at straws.

Really strange strategy given that several of those holding top positions in Umno owe a part of their rise and well-being to him. – February 26, 2018.

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Comments

  • Ketuanan's desparate measure

    Posted 6 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • These politicians who have mercilessly attacked Robert Kuok should take the time to read his memoir. He is first and foremost a Malaysian and proud to be one. During his time he contributed immensely to nation building and helped to set up several national industries during our nation's infancy. He worked tirelessly to forge Malaysia- China ties. Infact he financially helped the ruling parties. When former MCA president Tan Koon Swan was charged in the Singapore courts it was Robert who came up with the 20 million Sing dollar bail. He is a fine patriot. Read his memoir. It is highly recommended for all Malaysians

    Posted 6 years ago by S.Jeyakumar Sundralingam · Reply

    • I really hope he published a second "no-holds-barred" (maybe posthumous, under such circumstances) memoirs. One can now understand why Lim Goh Tong memoirs is so "thin" and Dr. Lim Chong Eu refused to publish his at all.

      Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • The late Dr. Lim Chong Eu did not have to write any memoir

      He held a talk in E&O hotel years ago, and in the talk, and in that talk, he told us the inside stories - including those which happened in and around the May 13 racial riot

      Posted 6 years ago by Bukan buta · Reply

    • The late Dr. Lim Chong Eu did not have to write any memoir

      He held a talk in E&O hotel years ago, and in the talk, and in that talk, he told us the behind-the-scene stories - including what happened in and around the May 13 racial riot

      Posted 6 years ago by Bukan buta · Reply

  • Days of desperations are here, suddenly for the leaders of the ruling fractions. They attack anyone and everyone who sheds a good picture of their past contributions to Bolehland but missed out their names .... you see, these leaders wanted a piggy back ride on everything as though they must be credited for everything and anything good done in Bolehland .... well having said that, they too do not wish to be part of the bad stuff that they did create along the way. They must have faces up in banners, posters, along the highways and now in his memior, non of them appear nor was credited for anything .... well one can say they have their right to their opinions. We have leaders who can tell them off when their follows go off track but I dont see this toeing the line often here in Bolehland. Wonder why????? .... Anyway, I rather shut up as my name is not mention in Kouk's books too .......LOL

    Posted 6 years ago by Crishan Veera · Reply

  • A few months back the Ministry of Health announced that 30% of Malaysians were having mental health problems. So it should not be surprising if this also translates into 30% of the country's leaders also have mental health problems!

    Posted 6 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply

  • Robert Kuok is not not interested in BN UMNO anymore

    Posted 6 years ago by Dave Rajan · Reply