Photo montage by Adam Connors
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RANKINGS 1-5
| 6-10 | 11-15
| 16-20 | 21-25
| 26-30 | 31-35
| 36-40 | 41-45
| 46-50 | next
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Munshi
Ahmed for Asiaweek
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11
Goh Chok Tong
PRIME MINISTER OF SINGAPORE
BORN May 20, 1941, in Singapore
FAMILY Married with twins, a boy and girl
E-MAIL goh_chok_tong@pmo.gov.sg
POWER POINTS Amid doubts about the ability of Singapore's government-linked
companies to compete in the New Economy, Goh is trying to shape a
more dynamic, risk-taking society. Another priority: to attract tech
talent to the Lion City. "We have to create a Silicon Valley of the
Mind," he says. The PM has made it clear he will stay in office at
least through the next general election, expected by 2002.
12
Chuan Leekpai
PRIME MINISTER AND DEFENSE MINISTER OF THAILAND
BORN July 28, 1938, in Trang, Thailand
EDUCATION Law degree from Bangkok's Thammasat University
FAMILY Common-law wife (living separately); one son
HOBBIES Sketching, shadow-boxing
POWER POINTS Once thought indecisive, Thailand's Mr. Clean
has had a vigorous year, presiding over the start of a thorough reform
of the political and financial scene and a bold downsizing of the
armed forces. In general elections scheduled for this year, his team
is likely to be returned.
Edwin
Tuyay for Asiaweek
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13
Mahathir Mohamad
PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA
BORN Dec. 20, 1925, in Kedah state
EDUCATION University of Malaya, Singapore
FAMILY Married to Dr. Siti Hasmah Ali; seven children, two
of whom are adopted
E-MAIL ppm@smpke.jpm.my
POWER POINTS A mixed year for the combative Malaysian leader.
His ruling coalition secured a two-thirds majority in November's general
elections, but Mahathir's UMNO party was shaken by a significant loss
of support from heartland Malay voters - many of them disillusioned
by the treatment of former deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim. Mahathir rallied
to retain a firm grip on UMNO in May's party elections, when he was
returned unopposed as president. His big task: to shed the party's
money-politics image. A big plus: the economy is making a sound recovery.
14
Richard Li
CHAIRMAN AND CEO, PACIFIC CENTURY GROUP
BORN Nov. 8, 1966, in Hong Kong
EDUCATION Stanford University
FAMILY Single
E-MAIL richard@pcg-group.com
HOBBIES Scuba diving, flying aircraft
POWER POINTS The whiz-kid of the New Economy, with little respect
for the better-established. The venerable SingTel discovered this
when Li swooped to snatch a merger with Hong Kong's Cable &Wireless
HKT from its grasp. Once mocked for being a business with no business,
Li's Pacific Century CyberWorks is now Asia's second-largest Internet
company - surmounting early doubts that this could only have been
achieved because its boss is Li Ka-shing's son.
15
Azim Premji
CHAIRMAN, WIPRO CORP.
BORN July 24, 1945
EDUCATION Studied engineering at Stanford University, but did
not finish course
FAMILY Married with two sons
E-MAIL azim.premji@corp.wipro.co.in
POWER POINTS Briefly calculated to be the second-wealthiest
man in the world (the tumble of technology stocks changed that), Premji,
a Muslim, has fast-forwarded Wipro from a traditional company (it
still manufactures soaps, shoes and light bulbs) to a global leader
in software solutions.
RANKINGS 1-5
| 6-10 | 11-15
| 16-20 | 21-25
| 26-30 | 31-35
| 36-40 | 41-45
| 46-50 | next
>>
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