KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak welcomed the statement by Robert Kuok who expressed deep appreciation for the opportunities the tycoon had been given.
Najib’s press secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad said Kuok had also recognised the contributions of all Malaysians towards the development of the country.
He said Kuok had expressed that he held in the highest esteem leaders of this country who had throughout their lives done everything they could to contribute to the well being of Malaysians.
“Kuok’s statement is in tandem with what Najib said last week that while it could not be denied that Kuok was hardworking and had rights to pursue wealth, even the richest man in Malaysia needed an opportunity which opened doors to his success.
“The prime minister had said that government policies were the key which opened the opportunities in the fields of education, business and other jobs for an individual to succeed.”
Tengku Sariffuddin said Najib had used Kuok being the richest man in Malaysia as example of a man who was hardworking and disciplined, and who had gone on to achieve great success after he was given an opportunity to monopolise the rice and sugar business by the government a long time ago.
“Kuok’s success as an entrepreneur is the success story of Malaysia and it is also an inspiration for others to succeed,” he said in response to Kuok’s statement yesterday.
On Monday, Kuok had issued a statement to address articles which had cast asperations on his commitment to Malaysia and the integrity of the country’s democratic process.
He said that any assertion that he had forgotten his roots were entirely false.
Kuok also placed on record that he had a deep appreciation for the opportunities he had been given in this country and recognised the contributions made by Malaysians of all creeds, races and religions towards the development of Malaysia.