Thursday May 8, 2008

Dr M: Long time before Asean can be like EU

PUTRAJAYA: Asean can emulate the European Union (EU) but it will take a long time, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Stating that it would not happen in his lifetime, he said there were many differences among the 10 nations including different currencies that had to be looked into before the idea could become a reality.

He added that a common currency could be introduced that is similar to the euro but the respective local currencies such as the ringgit should still exist to be used domestically.

He also said that the countries could share airspace or introduce a single passport.

“We started off with five founding states and have now expanded to 10 where cooperation is minimal, but of course we can find areas of common interests,” he said here yesterday.

He also said that our leaders should be educated enough and be careful when signing agreements and treaties to ensure Malaysia's sovereignty is not eroded.

During the British colonisation, Malaysia was made to sign treaties that had initially benefited the nation but had proven to be a bad deal now, he said, citing as example the selling price of raw water to Singapore.

“Before the British came, we did not have a survey team. The British did the survey and lots of our land had been lost to neighbouring countries,” he said, adding that there should be an exit provision in treaties so that it could be amended according to the current state of affairs.