MALAYSIA will consider signing the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) if it is “beneficial” to the country. 

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Putrajaya had not decided on it yet but remained open to the trade agreement. 

“We will join whenever we feel it is beneficial. We haven’t made any commitments yet,” he said after a meeting with Asean business leaders today. 

RCEP is an agreement among the 10-member Asean bloc and Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

Dr Mahathir said he had been advised by Asean businessmen to be more proactive concerning business in the region. 

“They want to know what we can do for Asean because Asean has been quite dormant for some time and they think we are not making full use of Asean assets, especially village people. 

“All though we are poor, the numbers are big. We should cooperate more in terms of manufacturing and trading,” he said.

Separately, Dr Mahathir said a third link between Malaysia and Singapore was in the works but details had not been finalised.

“There is already some planning,” he said.

It was reported recently that the Johor government was planning to build a third bridge to reduce congestion between the nations. – August 30, 2018.