Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): The Malaysia-India trade and investment relationship has not been impacted by the recent #BoycottMalaysia movement on Indian social media.

Speaking to reporters at the parliament lobby, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Indian government has not said anything about boycotting Malaysian products and investment, while adding the relationship has not been impacted.

"We haven't received any official statement, I have already spoken to Prime Minister Modi, if there is anything he can communicate with us. As of yet we have not received anything from them [the Indian government," he said.

Dr Mahathir reiterated this in comments on the current state of affairs in Kashmir, stating that India and Pakistan were to ensure that both parties resolve their issues peacefully, either through arbitration, negotiations or a court of law.

Following Dr Mahathir's recent comments at United Nations General Assembly, certain quarters within Indian social media have been advocating for a boycott of Malaysian products imported into the country.

Separately, when questioned about his previous comments on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, he said China has not given an official response.

"[We have received] nothing. They probably did not hear about it. I was answering a question coming from a lawyer from Hong Kong, so I did not want to pass any opinion on what is happening there, because it is an internal matter," said Dr Mahathir, adding that the lawyer asked what Lam should do, to which the premier replied that given the dilemma Lam is facing she should resign.

At the LAWASIA Constitutional and Rule of Law Conference 2019 last Friday, Dr Mahathir was reported to have said Lam should resign. This was as she faced a dilemma of following orders from Beijing and managing her own conscience.

On the new targeted fuel subsidy, which is to be implemented on Jan 1, 2020, the premier said based on the government's studies, some members of the bottom 40% income group (B40 segment) had as many as six cars.

"Now the fuel subsidy will only be for one car, if that car is owned by someone in the B40. We cannot give the subsidy to rich people. Using the old subsidy, even those who drive Rolls-Royce cars were getting the subsidy. Now we have decided that cars below 1,600 cc will get the subsidy and it will be for the B40, and it will only be for one car only. We can't give for more than one car," he said, adding the subsidy will be targeted to those who need it.

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