Share technology, US and Japan urged

GREAT powers like the United States and Japan should be technology and information providers, according to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Major powers should ensure that regional states gain access to high technology and information,” he said, adding that the US was doing its part.

He pointed to the recent purchase of F-18 fighter- jets from the US as an example in which Kuala Lumpur acquired sophisticated technologies which could produce spin-offs for Malaysia’s industrial sector.

Noting Washington’s commitment to the region, he said that US direct investment in the Asean countries from 1991 to 1993 amounted to US$9.4 billion (S$14 billion).

This accounted for 13.7 per cent of the total investments in the region.

At the same time, goods from the region had access to the US market.

He said that Japan, too, had a role to play in providing technology and information to countries in the region.

But it was unfortunate that Japan was unable to do so because of unstable governments in Tokyo, he added.

Malaysian leaders have expressed disappointment recently with Japan’s Mitsubishi for its slow pace of technology transfer in the manufacture of Malaysia’s national Proton Saga car.