Meantime, MMC, which is today the former rice trader’s biggest asset ... creating more than 23,000 jobs. AlBukhary also has a majority stake in DRB-Hicom, an automotive firm with interests ...

In response, Rice said the comments made were isolated and prompted a visceral response by the rest of the diplomatic corps, including those serving in dangerous posts outside Iraq and Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has put the spotlight on the rice monopoly enjoyed by Bernas Bhd, controlled by billionaire tycoon Syed Mokhtar Albukhary. At a press conference this afternoon ...