Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary has become the latest Malaysian to join the ranks of world's richest, according to the Forbes 2007 list of US dollar billionaires.

The inclusion of the 55-year-old, who made his fortune in the rice and sugar trade, increased the number of Malaysians in the list to nine from eight last year.

He was ranked as the seventh richest Malaysian and 754th in the world.

EARLY LIFE
Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary was born into a mid-low class family of Hadhrami Arab descent in north of Peninsular Malaysia; whose house was without necessities and luxuries. His highest education was only until form five, and he never went to university. A whole lot of his knowledge and experience was gained through his own entrepreneurship experience during his youth time.

Due in part his family's mediocre-to-poor background, Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary had to step into the working world in his early life, while pursuing his primary and secondary studies. Syed Mokhtar helped his mother planting and selling vegetables in the market and also selling roti canai. His numeric knowledge was used to help his father in doing daily book keeping.

After finishing school, Syed Mokhtar helped his father in breeding cow business but only to see the business washed away by foot and mouth disease. Nevertheless, he took over the business and start over by selling meats. He then move on to packaging the meats and start selling them wholesale. His determination paid off and the business started to take off.

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Shah bin Syed Nor Al-Bukhary is the richest Bumiputra corporate figure in Malaysia. With involvement in diversified business areas which include transportation and logistics, plantations, property development, defense and armory as well as engineering and power generation. He has a net worth estimated to be US$2.00 billion according to Forbes, making him the 7th richest Malaysian.