MALAYSIA CALLS ON JAPAN TO PLAY GREATER ROLE IN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO ASEAN

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair, wants Japan to play a greater role in driving technology transfer and front-end semiconductor investment in the region, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

“I think we (ASEAN) are at the level of strategic comprehensive partnership with Japan. With Japan, we do not have any issue except that we want Japan to play (a greater) role in terms of technology and artificial intelligence.

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“(In terms of) trade between ASEAN and Japan, I think we have no issue. Except that now we want Japan to play (a bigger) role in terms of transfer of technology to this region, especially with Malaysia being (ASEAN) chairman,” he told reporters during his visit to the International Media Centre in conjunction with the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here today.

He was speaking ahead of the ASEAN summits, which will see the diplomatic debut of Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president was elected following LDP’s agreement with the Japan Innovation Party to form a coalition government.

Mohamad said the region wants Japan to play a bigger role and not second fiddle -- investing in the front-end, especially in semiconductors, instead of bringing in back-end industries.

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“We (Malaysia) have bilateral (agreements) with Japan. ASEAN also has a multilateral arrangement with Japan. That is why I have upgraded our partnership with Japan to Strategic Comprehensive Partnership,” he added.

Japan has remained one of ASEAN’s largest trading partners and investors, with total two-way trade reaching US$236.4 billion last year, while Japan’s foreign direct investment to ASEAN reached nearly US$18 billion. (US$1=RM4.22)

Asking on Mohamad’s view on the appointment of Japan’s new Prime Minister, he said: “Very good. This is the first time Japan has a lady Prime Minister.”

It was reported that Takaichi plans to meet her Malaysian counterpart and ASEAN chair, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in bilateral talks and is expected to announce the provision of defence equipment to Malaysia under the Official Security Assistance framework.

-- BERNAMA