'Middle East countries look to M'sia as model'

Malaysia is now a model nation for Middle East countries, said International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed.

"Countries like Libya and Egypt are looking at Malaysia as a successful moderate Muslim country. Just like we look to Japan, Malaysia is becoming a model to North Africa," he told reporters.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference on Malaysia-Japan cooperation in Kuala Lumpur, Mustapa said that, because of this, he is heading for Egypt tomorrow.

"They want to learn from Malaysia," he said.

In a congratulatory message to the conference, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said the Japanese are interested in joint ventures in areas like "high-speed railway, water and smart community".

Asked if this refers to the mooted Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed railway, Mustapa said this is something under consideration.

"Not just the Japanese but many others are interested and it will go through open bidding," he said.

He said the study of the project announced under the Economic Transformation Programme  has "gone through its first part", with further evaluations under way.

"Of course the Japanese have expertise in this area, having invented the bullet train," he said.

The conference, themed ‘Look East Policy- A New Dimension’ was officially opened by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who called for greater targeted bilateral cooperation in high technology areas.

The conference is the 31st organised to date by the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association, Japan-Malaysia Economic Association.

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