HANOI – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia can learn from the experience of Vietnam, which redeveloped the country after it was almost destroyed by French colonialism and direct American involvement.
Anwar said as a result of the destruction, many Vietnamese people had to flee, including to Malaysia, due to the chaos in their home country at that time, lack of safety, and severely affected economy.
“We in Malaysia know those who had to flee the country because of economic problems and sudden changes as boat people.
“However, as we are aware, Vietnam has been making progress in a short period of time as an amazing economic power, and among the most successful developing countries in the world.
“This is firstly due to the unification of North and South Vietnam. The focus is unity, with the clear goal of developing the country and safeguarding the people’s well-being,” he said.
The prime minister said this at a press conference with the Malaysian media, before departing for the capital after a two-day visit to Vietnam.
Anwar and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail arrived in Hanoi yesterday afternoon for the official visit at the invitation of his counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.
Anwar said that in the 1990s, Vietnam relied a lot on Malaysia and learned from how Malaysia was developed, especially in the financial and banking sectors, but now Vietnam is ahead of Malaysia in several sectors.
“Because Vietnam is united, they are focused on the economy, and you also know that there are some strict measures on issues of governance and anti-corruption.
“This means that governance is prioritised, getting rid of influences that can weaken the country,” he said. – Bernama, July 21, 2023
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