In 2002, he had to defend himself from accusations that he had acted as a nominee for former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin by holding shares of Multi-Purpose Holdings Bhd (MPHB) on Daim's behalf. According to The Edge Daily, Surin who controls MPHB via his holding in Quantum Aspects, was viewed as a close associate of Daim.

Surin, who holds Thai nationality, denied the accusations.

"People think we [the major shareholders of MPHB] are nominees of Daim. We are not. I do not know him," he was quoted by The Edge Daily as saying in 2002.

A Singapore business daily which had run the allegations was eventually forced to apologise to Daim for an article that said he was linked to the MPHB owners.

Surin is now under the spotlight again. The Star newspaper on Monday said the 56-year-old businessman was in talks to join Temasek Holdings in its takeover of Shin Corp.

Surin, who is called "Datuk Surin" by Malaysian colleagues, is now managing director of MPHB, which was incorporated in 1975 with financial services, stock-brokering and gaming as its core businesses.

 Although Surin is well known among Malaysian businessmen, his name hardly rings a bell here. MPHB's main office is in Kuala Lumpur.

Surin, also known as Lau Kim Khoon, was listed as one of the nine largest shareholders of MPHB in its 2003 annual report.

Surin's acquisition of Shin Corp shares, if successful, should help increase the local stake in Shin as The Star reported Surin might own 70 per cent of a Thai company to be set up to hold 41 per cent of Shin.

Yesterday, Temasek completed its tender offer for Shin, which increased its shareholding in the firm to 96.12 per cent. Shin was founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Sources said Surin was approached by Temasek and Shin Corp executives who are desperately seeking local partners.

According to MPHB's annual report in 2004, Surin has been involved in textile manufacturing and played a key role in the expansion and development of the MWE group of companies.

He was made managing director of MWE Spinning Mills in 1974 and was in charge of its operations.