Dr M, Modi discuss technology transfer

PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad described his bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “very good” and stated Malaysia’s interest in technology transfer between the two countries.

He said Malaysia was interested in India’a online procurement system, as well as a direct supply system, which eliminated the need for middlemen.

“We can work together in many fields. In the field of technology, I was interested in how he enforced cashless systems. Everybody in India has a bank account, so there are no people in between.

“When someone wants to procure something from the Indian government, he goes online and the supplier also does this directly.”

He said trade was also discussed, with India invited to invest in Malaysia and vice versa.

“There is room for exchanges in trade compared with before,” he said.

This marks the first official meeting between the leaders as prime ministers. Dr Mahathir said Modi had told him that they had met in the 1990s.

On his diplomatic visit to Japan, Dr Mahathir said he was going at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

He said the visit was not official but a courtesy to expand on the good ties long enjoyed by the two nations.

Dr Mahathir reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to be a business-friendly country that would be fair to investors and foreign companies.

He said the mistakes of the past Barisan Nasional government would not be repeated, adding that the new establishment would ensure that all investment and trade activities would follow the rule of law.

“We will right the mistakes of the previous government. We cannot be called inconsistent because we just formed the government three weeks ago.

“Give us time and we guarantee we will not make the mistakes that the Barisan Nasional government made,” he said after chairing the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting here yesterday.