'1MALAYSIA' IMPRESSES FRENCH AMBASSADOR

By Ahmad Zukiman Mohamed Zain

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- As France debates on a national identity,
the ‘1Malaysia’ concept has drawn the interest of its ambassador here, Dr Marc
Barety.

“How you manage when you are a diverse country with many different
communites and how everybody is working together towards the same goal is
interesting,” he told Bernama in an interview at the embassy in busy Jalan
Ampang here.

Noting that France was also a diverse country, he said the French Government
had launched a debate on national identity, calling on citizens to express their
views about what being French means.

“So, the answers are, of course, very diverse...we are not at the end of the
process.

“For us, to see that Malaysia is also thinking of 1Malaysia and what it
means
to be one country when you have various communities is, of course, very
interesting,” noted Dr Barety.

According to a media report, the French Government launched a website last
November for the people to give input in the project carried out by its ministry
of immigration and national identity.

In the interview on France-Malaysia relations, Dr Barety said the increasing
number of reciprocal visits by ministers of both countries was a step forward in
bilateral relations.

“We have had more French ministers visiting Malaysia in the past year than
we had before,” he said.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, his deputy,
Muhyiddin Yassin and Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
visited Paris for talks with French leaders and counterparts.

“Of course, the prime minister met with our president (Nicolas Sarkozy) but
more important than that, they decided to engage in strategic partnership which
is really an upgrade...it means a lot for the future,” he said.

The ambassador, who met representatives of top French companies here last
week, said Malaysia was a very attractive place for them.

“They told me they are happy here and they want to develop their business
here...For me, this is very positive, when you compare this with what you read
in some newspapers and talk to the people who know the business, it is very
satisfying,” added Dr Barety.

According to him, there are now 200 French companies in Malaysia while the
number of French living in the country has grown to 2,300.

He said France was also keen to tap on Malaysia’s expertise in Islamic
finance and halal food.

“Malaysia is becoming (a) hub for (the) halal industry and we are trying to
develop this.

“We have the French Muslim community who are already producing halal food,"
he said.

-- BERNAMA