WIKILEAKS: IRAN SANCTIONS ACT: EMBASSY EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER REPORTED IRAN/MALAYSIA GAS DEAL

Observers attribute his later rise to Syed's close connections with former Prime Minister Mahathir. Syed's business interests include plantations, property development, construction, engineering, power generation, mining, seaport construction and operation, airport management, railways, hotels, manufacturing, retail, and defense technologies. Syed Mokhtar has been the recipient of countless