Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has suggested that low-cost airlines such as AirAsia seriously look to flying to Africa to facilitiate travel and increase trade and investment linkages.

He said that currently, the lack of such connectivity was a deterrent to enhancing ties between Malaysia and African nations, although the continent possessed a vast economic potential that remains largely untapped.

In an immediate response to Mahathir’s call at the Malaysia-Africa Business Forum Saturday morning, AirAsia’s chief Tony Fernandes told Bernama that this was possible.

"Azran (Osman Rani, Airasia X's chief executive) and the team are looking at Egypt and also Luanda (Angola) and Nairobi (Kenya),” he said via SMS.

Mugabe attends Langkawi Dialogue

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today to attend the Ninth Langkawi International Dialogue in Putrajaya.

The 87-year-old leader is one of the regulars at the LID forum which is being held for the first time outside the resort island of Langkawi.

Leaders or representatives from 16 countries will attend the LID hosted by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

- Bernama