SME Malaysia president Michael Kang said today that only those linked to the previous administration were invited to business dialogues in the past.

Kang said this at the Malaysia business dialogue held at the China World Hotel in Beijing, ahead of the meeting between the Malaysian delegation, led by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and China President Xi Jinping.

“When compared to the previous government, who invited only businesses linked to the government, this time the majority represent various business groups.

“This trip’s delegation includes business leaders, because the prime minister wants to have this initiative by the businessmen themselves, not by the government. This is the right way,” he noted.

Kang stressed the significance of the dialogue, pointing out that the prime minister wanted to know what was on the business leaders’ wish list prior to the meeting with Xi.

“We hope that the Chinese businesses can set up their local regional hubs in Malaysia to move into the Asean and Muslim markets,” he added.

About 100 business leaders from Malaysia attended the dialogue, including from SME Malaysia, Malaysia Chinese Chambers of Commerce, and Malay Businessmen and Industrialists Association of Malaysia (Perdasama).

The dialogue was organised by the International Trade and Industry Ministry and was attended by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Minister Darell Leiking.

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