Pakistan wants to learn from Malaysia and its leadership: PM Imran

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday told Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Pakistan wants to learn from Malaysia and its leadership.

PM Imran, who is on a two-day official visit to Malaysia, while addressing a joint conference with his Malaysian counterpart said, “Presently, our governments are in very similar situations and people gave us both the mandate on an anti-corruption platform.”

The premier said he wanted to visit Malaysia as he admires Dr Mahathir and what he has done for his country. “One of the main reasons I wanted to lead to the Pakistani delegation to Malaysia was out of admiration for PM Mahathir. We look upon you as a statesman and someone who transformed his country,” the premier said.

PM Imran also told his Malaysian counterpart that Pakistan wants to learn from the progress and development of Malaysia and its leadership. “We want to learn from your experience and how your transformed your economy and developed it, raised the per capita income and the GDP.”

“We face similar situations in terms of unprecedented debt and have a lot to share and wanted to talk to you about the crisis and how to come out of it,” the premier further told his Malaysian counterpart while addressing the joint conference.

“I am very pleased with our morning discourse,” PM Imran continued and said that different areas were discussed, including trade and tourism.

Both leaders stressed the importance of exchanges of visits at all levels, with a view to further expand the depth of bi-lateral ties for commerce and business in both countries, particularly in palm oil, agro products, food retail, halal products, automotive parts, energy, science and technology, and telecommunication.

PM Imran Khan also invited Dr Mahathir to visit Pakistan as chief guest on Pakistan Day which falls on March 23. Mahathir Mohammad accepted the invitation.

In a joint statement released, the two leaders agreed to increase their collaborative efforts to uphold the true values of Islam in international fora while strengthening the solidarity of the Muslim Ummah.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate more closely on issues affecting the Muslim world, including taking joint efforts in underscoring Muslim sensitivities in attacking Muslim holy personalities and religious beliefs, the statement read.

Further, both the leaders stressed that terrorism cannot be associated with any religion or belief.

The Malaysian side took note of the massive counter-terrorism efforts that Pakistan has successfully undertaken in an effort to eliminate terrorism, it added. Later during the day, PM Imran visited the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Headquarters.

MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Sri Shukri Abdull gave a briefing to the PM about its workings.