November 16, 2009 20:49 PM

Asian Countries Will Make Tremendous Progress In 21st Century

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is confident of Asian countries making tremendous progress in the 21st century.

The former prime minister said it was expected that Asia would continue to grow and dominate the world in the 21st century as the region had been the centre of the world, long before.

"With higher population in Asia, better productivity, improvement in qualities, innovativeness and inventiveness, you can see Asia growing in the 21st century," he said in a special lecture on 'Asia and 21st Century' at the Asia-Europe Eminent Persons Lecture Series here Monday.

He said, some Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, China and India, had shown progress in their respective areas.

For example, Dr Mahathir added, the Japanese did copying, but had improved very quickly to become more innovative than the people who originally introduced them to the modern industries.

"As you know, the Japanese began their efforts by copying. People looked down on the Japanese because they were noted for copying European products and producing very poor quality products.

"But now, nobody will accuse the Japanese for producing poor quality products. They produced their own products and their products are so good," he said.

On China, Dr Mahathir said they adopted the western capitalisation for the economic part but retained their old authority government.

"China, 20 years ago, was so backward. Singapore's then-prime minister Lee Kuan Yew told me before, not to be afraid of the Chinese, because they are very backward.

"Now, I am afraid of China. They have become manufacturers of everything the world needs," he said.

India, Dr Mahathir said, would be involved in the information technology (IT) sector but it would take a little bit of time because of bureaucracy in the country.

"They will make tremendous progress in the IT world because everything now is going to be digitalised. Indian software is extremely good," added the former prime minister.

-- BERNAMA

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