Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad certainly is back to take matters into his own hands when the PH alliance won the 14th general elections a few months ago. However, he is also humble enough to acknowledge those who have contributed to making Malaysia what it is today.
Today, Dr Mahathir said in a speech that Malaysia’s success is attributed to the contributions of the business community, particularly those from its ethnic Chinese community, according to Malay Mail.
He commended the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industries of Malaysia (ACCCIM) at their 72nd annual general meeting and said that they were the driving force behind generating wealth in Malaysia.
Source: Malay Mail
“Our country is what it is today because of the contribution from the business community, especially the Chinese community because they are dynamic in many ways,” he said.
“It is the business community which creates wealth in any society, in any country, and there is no doubt that ACCCIM along with the Chinese community as well as other communities have contributed much to the development of the country.”
Dr Mahathir mentioned that it was former Penang chief minister, the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu who helped bring in foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country, and had visited European nations to encourage businesses over there to invest in Malaysia.
He said that Lim, who had served from 1969 to 1990 and was dubbed the “architect of Penang”, was key in turning the state into the country’s electronics and electrical manufacturing hub.
Source: The Sun Daily
“Foreign direct investment is important as they can help bring in new skills, new technological know-how that can help the country,” Dr Mahathir said.
He also explained that small nations who presented themselves when bigger countries engaged in trade wars had a lot of opportunities for growth.
“Even trade wars between big nations may provide new opportunities,” he said, alluding to the current fight between the US and Asian superpower China.
“As they cancel each other out, it may lead to new places, new partners with whom to trade or build new relevant facilities to produce or manufacture goods.”
Source: The Borneo Post
As his speech came to a close, Dr Mahathir called on the business community to help close the income differences, reminding them that social-economic strife would be damaging to their businesses.
“Huge wealth disparity between the rich and the poor could lead to tension and instability, which is not good for business. Everyone must have a share of the wealth of the country,” he said.
He added that a collaborative effort would be needed to lessen the income disparity and for everyone to share in prosperity.
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