Mahathir, Bolkiah talk crisis

Mahathir, Bolkiah talk crisis

KUDAT, Malaysia (AFP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday he discussed the Asian economic crisis and regional cooperation with Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah during an overnight visit to the sultanate.

"We made assessments about the economic situation and the kind of cooperation between ASEAN countries," he told reporters on his arrival in the eastern state of Sabah, which shares a border with the oil-rich country.

Mahathir said he briefed the sultan on his recent visits to Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore, adding that he was also briefed on the Brunei leader's recent visit to Singapore.

"Both leaders talked at length on current issues affecting the region," The Star reported from the Brunei capital Bandar Seri Begawan.

The newspaper quoted Mahathir's aides as saying that the talks with the Brunei ruler, one of the world's richest men, focussed on ways the sultanate could assist in the region's recovery.