Dr Mahathir arrives in Syria for two-dav official visit I From Carolyn Hong (IT) companies. in Damasck - IT is of specific interest as Dr Ba- [email protected] shar is a strong advocate of computer literacy and the Internet. PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dr Mahathir will hold a dialogue Mahathir Mohamad arrives early with Syrian businessmen, and also today in this ancient city for a two- address private sector leaders and day official visit, which covers diverse think-tank representatives on Ma- ground from business and regional laysia’s experience in development concerns, to academic dialogues with and nation-building. ulamas and think-tanks. The Prime Minister will open He is the first Malaysian Prime Proton’s showroom in Harasta. Last Minister to visit Syria. year, Syria imported 600 Proton First on the agenda is a meeting Waja and Wira cars, and 100 Pero- with Syrian President Dr Bashar Al- dua scooters. Assad who succeeded his father Ha- During the visit, Malaysia and fez Al-Assad in 2000 at the age of 34, Syria will sign nine Memoranda of and is credited for building a more Understanding including on Science open society. and Technology Co-operation, IT, edu- Syria, long a socialist state living cation, trade and bilateral payments. in political and economic isolation, is Dr Mahathir will also\ hold a dia- now loosening the tight controls, in- logue with ulama and Islamic lead- cluding moving from a centrally plan- ers, chaired by former Damascus ned economy to free market system. University professor Mohammad Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Tawfil Al Bujairami. Hamid Albar said Syria was inter- He will visit the Umayyad ested in Malaysia’s experience in Mosque, one of the most sacred sites building a progressive Islamic nation, in the Muslim world, and hand over‘ and becoming a middle-income a donation of US$lOIOOO to Minister country. ofAwkaf Mohamad Zladah. “They want to exchange views on The mosque, located in the heart of this,” he said. the city, was built in the seventh He added that Dr Mahathir and century, and stands on the site of a Dr Bashar were also keen to discuss former temple to the Roman god Ju- regional issues like Palestine and piter and Christian Church dedicated Iraq, which are central to peace in to St John the Baptist. West Asia and the world. Dr Siti Hasmah has a separate “They will discuss the Middle East programme, including opening a problems, and the need for a com- badminton clinic by a Malaysian prehensive solution that will include coach, visiting the Damascus Uni- Syria,” Syed Hamid said. versity, and attending meetings with Syria had lost the Golan Heights the First Lady Asma Al-Assad and to Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli General Union for Women chairman War, and has held occasional peace Sou’ad Bakoor. talks with Israel for its return. Malaysia opened its mission in Dr Mahathir will also meet Syrian Syria last year, while Damascus es- Prime Minister Mustapha Mero. tablished an embassy in Kuala Syed Hamid said both countries Lumpur the same year. had strong political ties since diplo- The delegation includes Energy, matic relations were established in Communications and Multimedia 1958, but trade and investment Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie, lagged behind. and Science, Technology and Envi- Bilateral trade was at US$67.3 ronment Minister Datuk Seri Law million (RM225.74 million) last year, Hieng Ding. with Malaysia exporting US$66.3 Menteris Besar in the delegation million worth of goods to Syria, and are Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim importing only US$l million. (Perlis), Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman Malaysia’s main exports to Syria (Johor) and Datuk Musa Aman (Sa- are timber and palm oil, while it bah). imports mainly cotton and herbal Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah medicine from the republic. leave for home on Tuesday night, The ‘IO-member delegation in- after a three-leg African tour which cludes representatives from 22 cor- began in Algeria last Sunday. porations including Proton, Airod, Petronas and information technology I SEE ALSO F5.