Repost: Billionaire Kuok grants rare interview on the horrors of war

HONG KONG — Notoriously media-shy Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok agreed at age of 95 to be interviewed by The Asahi Shimbun to share what he heard and saw during fighting in the Asia-Pacific region during World War II.

Kuok made his fortune in sugar refining and the real estate business, and also founded the Shangri-La hotel chain. According to Forbes business magazine, he is the wealthiest person in Malaysia. He also served on an advisory panel to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad last year.