Dr Mahathir begins two-leg working visit to the UK

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is to undertake a two-leg working visit to the United Kingdom from yesterday to Tuesday, and from Sept 29 to Oct 1 — his first trip to Europe after becoming prime minister for the second time.

Wisma Putra said yesterday that Dr Mahathir would attend the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York during the interval of the UK visits.

“The (UK) visit is set to boost friendship and cooperation between the two countries,” said Wisma Putra.

Dr Mahathir is scheduled to meet key investors, international capital market analysts and potential investors based in the UK and European Union as the government looked to boost foreign direct investment.

Wisma Putra said the meeting would be organised by Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, a prominent global banking group based in London.

Dr Mahathir is also scheduled to visit renowned high-technology companies in London, including Lotus Cars.

According to Wisma Putra, Dr Mahathir is scheduled to deliver a talk entitled “Challenges of Good Governance in the Muslim World” at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford.

He will give another talk on the “Future Democracy in Asia” at Chatham House of the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

He is also expected to attend a briefing session on police and public sector reforms to learn about the effective reform agenda in the UK.

He will attend an interview on the television programme HARDtalk on BBC.

Dr Mahathir is accompanied by his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, as well as officials from the Foreign Ministry.

The prime minister will also host a dialogue and hi-tea with Malaysians living in the UK.

Some 500 of them, including students, are expected to attend the event.