Top Business Leaders in Malaysia

Marcopolis ranked the top business leaders in Malaysia. The ranking is based on an executive survey with the top businessmen as part of the business report on Malaysia. Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary is No. 1, and Anthony (Tony) Fernandes, at No. 2, is the second top businessmen in Malaysia.

The research team asked the interviewees, who they think are the five top business personalities in Malaysia. The interviewees anonymously nominated a total of 33 leaders.

Out of the 33 personalities nominated by our interviewees, 15 leaders were a common vote amongst them, with five of the top businessmen standing out from the group and emerging as the leading business figures in Malaysia.

A surprising nomination was Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, governor of Malaysia’s central bank. The business community recognizes her leadership and impact of the policies on the business environment in the country.  While there is some correlation between the wealth and being the top businessman, the wealth was not the single defining factor in the nominations. The business community in Malaysia took into many consideration other qualities when nominating the “top businessman”. The wealthiest person in Malaysia, Robert Kuok finished 15th and the second richest leader ranked 3rd, in the survey.

The List

#1 Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary started his business in the 1990’s, and his company, Albukhary Corporation, holds a near monopoly on the distribution of rice in Malaysia.

#2 Anthony (Tony) Fernandes, who bought an airline for only $.33 cents, took a failed government-owned company, and turned it into AirAsia, one of the best, low-cost airlines in the world.

#3 Ananda Krishnan’s company, Maxis Communications, has made him one of the wealthiest and most powerfu businessmen in Asia.

#4 Lim Kok Thay, a successful entrepreneur, is the Chairman and CEO of Genting Group, and is one of Malaysia’s richest businessmen.

#5 Liew Kee Sin, CEO of SP Seti, is the 35th richest man in Malaysia. Sin had humble beginngs that would never have precicted his future impact on Malaysia‘s business world.

#6 Shahril bin Shamsuddin is President and CEO of SapuraKencana. SapuraKencana is the largest operator of rigs in the world, and provides its services to gas and oil magnates, such as Exxon Mobil, Shell, and BP.

#7 Nazir Razak, one of Malaysia’s top banking executives, is Chairman of Southeast Asia’s fifth largest bank, CIMB Group, along with its parent company, Bumiputra Commerce Holdings.

#8 Francis Yeoh comes from a successful family. His father, business tycoon, Yeoh Tiong Lay, is the founder on YTL Corporation, which is now run by Yeoh.

#9 Quek Leng Chan is a Malaysian entrprenuer, who is the Chairman of a Heong Leong Group.

#10 Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz is the governor of Malaysia’s central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia. She is the first woman to ever take the position.

#11 Azman Hashim is a self-made millionaire. He founded and heads AmBank group.

#12 Azman bin Haji Mokhtar, a Malaysian Sovereign Wealth Fund leader, is Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional, as well as Chairman of Iskandar Investment and Axiata Group.

#13 Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, who is also known as Zam, is currently the CEO and Managing Director of Telekom Malaysia.

#14 Abdul Ghani Othman, one of Malaysia’s most wealthy and prominent corporate leaders, is currently Chairman of Sime Darby, a multinational conglomerate involved in sectors across the economy.

#15 Robert Kuok is Forbes’ wealthiest man in Malaysia for the tenth straight year. He is the founder of Kuok Group.

Final Word

Our interviewees considered a number of Malaysians, however chose their nominees based on their influence and power in the country. Their innovation, inspiration, wide-range endeavors, and philanthropy have been recognized by the business world. Their strong work ethic and genuine impact on the Malaysian people have landed them on the list of Marcopolis’ Top Businessmen in the country.