Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Malaysia hints at lifting ban on British firms

Malaysia hints at lifting ban on British firms

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): The British press has stopped writing negative stories about Malaysia and that could be good news for British business, an official of the Southeast Asian nation said yesterday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan dropped the strongest suggestion yet that Malaysia would eventually lift a ban on public contracts for British companies when he said the lack of critical reports lately in the British media was "a good beginning".

"If the British media continues to be responsible in their reporting (about Malaysia), there may come a time when we will consider lifting the ban," Fadzil was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

"If they (the British media) choose to do the thing we expect them to do, we would reciprocate with the right things," he said. "We are sensible, practical and pragmatic people."

Angered at British media reports that Anglo-Malaysian arms deals were tainted with corruption, Malaysia barred British companies from government contracts two months ago.

British businesses have estimated the potential losses from the ban at four billion ringgit (US$1.5 billion) unless it is lifted soon.

Defense Minister Najib Abdul Razak last week also said Malaysia's bad press from its former colonial ruler appeared to be on the wane.

The British high commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, Duncan Slater, expressed similar sentiments on Monday, saying he hoped "things would get back to normal soon" now that Malaysia was no longer in the headlines.

But Fadzil said the government would decide to lift the ban only when it was sure the British media had stopped writing offending stories.

"It would be pointless if the government lifts the ban now, and then the same thing happens again," he said.

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