Instead of making “unfair” remarks about Malaysian leaders through his memoir, Umno Supreme Council member Bung Moktar Radin said tycoon Robert Kuok should “share the wealth” by expanding his businesses in the country.

"I see Robert Kuok as a successful leader, he started off his business here and became a rich man, but what is worrying is that he moved his business overseas.

"He should invest more in Malaysia to provide opportunities to the various ethnic groups here who can share the wealth with him," Bung told Malaysiakini.

He said Kuok had an “obligation” to return to Malaysia to help with the country’s development.

"He was once the sugar king, the sole exporter and importer of sugar. He should return to the place where he first started up.

"I am not accusing him of being unpatriotic; it’s just that I feel he has strayed out, in pursuit of the opportunities out there,” he added.

In the 376-page “Robert Kuok, A Memoir”, Kuok notes how the country's leaders chose a more racially skewed way of doing business after May 13, 1969, compared with the open tender practice that was in place before the race riots.

Kuok added that the government had since veered towards cronyism and favouritism.

"Since May 13, 1969, the Malay leadership has had one simple philosophy: the Malays need handicapping," he said.

"I had seen a picture developing all along of a train moving in the wrong direction. During Hussein’s administration, he was only partially successful in stemming the tide.

"The train of the nation had been put on the wrong track. Hussein wasn’t strong enough to lift up the train and set it down on the right track," Kuok said in his book.

Bung insists right track

Bung, who is the Kinabatangan MP, said the government had to take a racial approach to help the Malay community.

"But we are on the right track, that's why Malaysia is sustaining until today," he said, stressing the necessity of affirmative action as it prevented animosity among the ethnic groups.

"We have seen how a country that is dominated by one race but controlled by another ethnic minority will ultimately head towards destruction.

“We do not want this to happen here," he added.

Despite such an approach, Bung maintained that non-Malays are not being discriminated in the process.

"It is obvious that the business in this country was controlled by the Chinese, but the Malays were not envious, they just wanted to share in these successes.

“I think it is unfair for someone (like Kuok) who found success in the country to make such a criticism. Anybody, not just Robert Kuok, but all who find success in Malaysia shouldn’t forget where they came from,” he said.

Bung added that successful Malaysian business leaders should be fair when voicing out their opinions of the country, and of its leadership, especially since it would affect investor confidence and consequently, the national economy.