Reconcile? No way, my wife might stab me, tycoon Khoo tells cour

KUALA LUMPUR: ― Tycoon Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng told the High Court here today that his estranged wife could end up stabbing him with a knife if he ever attempted to fix their marriage.

Edmund Bon, who is representing Khoo’s estranged wife Pauline Chai, had asked the billionaire chairman of fashion and interiors brand Laura Ashley if he would try to save his 43-year marriage should the court order a reconciliation process.

“Our marriage is over,” said Khoo, 75, at the hearing that will decide the jurisdiction of the billion-ringgit divorce dispute.

“Although I don’t want it over, it’s over. At night, she can take a knife and stab me,” added the retail and hotel mogul, who has five children with 68-year-old Chai.

Khoo said three sets of senior church leaders had unsuccessfully tried to bring him and Chai, a former beauty queen, back together.

“They all tried their very best and quoted various scriptures, but she just ignored it,” said the magnate.

When Bon pressed Khoo again if he would follow a reconciliation process should the court order it, the tycoon told the lawyer: “I don’t want to risk my life, Mr Bon”.

Khoo also said, “After this divorce started, she’s said so much lies about me.”

An English court ruled earlier on October 17 that England was the more appropriate forum for the case to be heard.

Chai is seeking for the dispute to be decided by the English courts where she stands to gain up to half of Khoo’s estimated £400 million (RM2.1 billion) fortune, possibly the largest divorce settlement in British history.

Khoo, however, is applying to have the case heard in Malaysia, arguing that they were married in Malaysia where he also maintains his official residence. Khoo would risk losing less of his wealth if the trial is held here.