FUKUOKA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes that Asia could truly take on the global economy as a nexus if countries were willing to set aside any previous acrimony.
Citing the advancement of communication technology and modes of travel, the Prime Minister told a group of business executives that the west could even form joint corporations between countries that used to be embroiled in bloodshed.
He also said their cultures went through an amalgamation and mutual understanding under the objectives of the European Union (EU), other than turning the countries into regional powerhouses.
“Even the Germans joined France in its (Bastille Day) parade. Here in Asia, we are still putting up with a lot due to past acrimony. This is why we can't even form an Asian union which is comparative to the EU.
“We are wasting too much time being influenced by the previous animosity. The question is, how long do we still have to be bogged down by our past?” Dr Mahathir said during a lecture at the Kyushu-Asia Institute of Leadership.
Present at the lecture were executives from Kyushu Electric Power Company and Kyushu Railway Company, as well as Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Dr Mahathir also told the business executives that they must readjust their outlook of the future in which all countries would no longer be of a single ethnicity.
He said it would be untenable to have business policies that would not take into account multiracialism or multiculturalism.
“There are those who do not want others to come into their country, in order to preserve their ethnicity. Even the United States is accepting people of other races into the country, although the current president now is trying to put that in the reverse.
“But with the ease of travel, porous borders and communication technology, it is only time before all countries in the world will be multiracial.”
During a question-and-answer session later, Dr Mahathir was asked on the aspects of Japanese education that could be improved.
“You can always make your students travel to broaden their horizons by experiencing life in other countries. At the same time, they can learn more about world cultures in classes.”
On the possibility of promoting patriotism in a multiracial country, Dr Mahathir said its implementation would be realised if the individual accepted the country's values and position.
“The late US president (Dwight D.) Eisenhower was of German descent but he was loyal to his country and fought against Germany.
“Eventually all countries will be multiracial. It will not take place overnight, but it will over time. We need to accept it and make readjustments (to suit future changes).”
