NEM CAN ALSO BENEFIT MALAYSIA'S NEIGHBOURS - SIAA CHAIRMAN

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's New Economic Model (NEM)
launched recently was an important move that would not only benefit Malaysia
but also its neighbouring countries, said Chairman of Singapore Institute of
International Affairs (SIIA) Prof Simon Tay.

Amidst "foreigners' interest" in the Asean Community and Asian integration,
the NEM launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in March, was a
brave and important initiative, he told reporters after speaking at a forum
entitled "Will Crisis Divide Asia from America," here, today.

The NEM aims to transform Malaysia into a high income economy.

Prof Tay said that US President Barack Obama was also keen to have
"engagement" with Asean countries and in this aspect he was glad to see "the
Najib government engaging more deeply with America."

"It is good for all Asean and Asian countries to do so," he said, noting
that Malaysia, a Muslim country, already had business relationship with the US.

Touching on the topic of the forum held at the Institute of Strategic and
International Studies (ISIS), Prof Tay said that the US and Asia must help each
other to find a new balance in order to avoid a dangerous divide.

"We must learn to adjust, we want to have stronger Asean and Asian
integration and continue to have ties with America, in fact we want to rebalance
and grow these ties in a new way, at least for a more equal relationship.

"I think America in future can no longer dominate Asia and Asia should no
longer be disunited. But it doesn't mean we unite Asia and ignore America. In
fact, we have to take both at the same time," he said.

Prof Tay also encouraged Asians to be brave in raising related issues.
-- BERNAMA
ZUZ AR FR


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