Malaysia vows to pursue free and fair trade

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (Photo: asia.nikkei.com)

Hanoi (VNA) - Malaysia will continue to fight for free and fair trade in order to protect the interests of developing nations, the Bernama news agency quoted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as saying.

He told the media on November 17 when attending the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Port Moresby of Papua New Guinea that developed nations want the continuation of free trade or a globalised world because these ideas originated from them and were influenced by multinational corporations that owned a lot of products.

“If we want to enter the manufacturing field, we need to protect our own industries. If we don’t do this, we will not be able to compete with these developed nations,” he said.

Developed countries definitely do not want developing nations to be able to compete against them, he said, adding that the majority of corporations from these developed nations want larger markets, including those from less developed countries.

According to the PM, many underdeveloped countries are afraid to voice their views because they fear what can be done to them. “We are also afraid but if we do not voice out, no one will speak and these developed nations will be able to do whatever they want until we become poor,” he said.

Mahathir is leading a Malaysian delegation to the 26th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Papua New Guinea from November 17-18.-VNA