4 Malaysians In Forbes Asia Inaugural Heroes Of Philanthropy List. But Not Even One Is Chinese !

Excluded incumbent Barisan Nasional Kota Baharu Member of Parliament Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim is one of four well-known rich Malaysians picked as heroes of Forbes Asia's inaugural philanthropy list.

The other three generous Malaysians are businessman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, 56, retired Sarawakian politician and businessman Leonard Linggi Tun Jugah, 67, and Hishamudin Ubaidulla, 52.

Forbes Asia has released its first Heroes of Philanthropy list in its March 10 issue business magazine in honour of some of Asias most generous and interesting philanthropists.

"With Asia booming, newly created wealth is increasingly being earmarked for altruistic causes", Forbes Asia says in a statement today.

It said for the first time this year Forbes Asia had put together a list of 48 philanthropists - four each from 12 countries.

It says Zaid, who owns the country's largest law firm, Zaid Ibrahim & Co, started the Kelantan Foundation for the disabled in 1998, which serves 2,400 people suffering from Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Syed Mokhtar, who controls Malaysia Mining Corp, and holds big stakes in Johor Port and other businesses started the Albukhary Foundation, a Muslim charity that assists the needy, regardless of colour in 1996.

He is the sole funder to the foundation.

Forbes Asia says the businessman gave the foundation $30 million in 2006 and $25 million last year, which funds remedial classes in English, Science and Mathematics for 20,000 under-achieving students from poor rural families each year.

The foundation hopes the extra schoolwork "will help bridge the educational divide between the rich and poor." It also runs a college scholarship programme for 300 students from more than 40 countries. (Bernama)

***** Whatever happened to our Chinese billionaires? Much money but no heart perhaps?
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