Dr M: Malaysia to use Huawei technology as much as possible

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will make use of Huawei's technology as much as possible, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told the Future of Asia conference in Tokyo, amidst ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China.

Nikkei Asian Review reported that while countries including Japan and Australia were avoiding the use of Huawei equipment as they introduced new 5G mobile networks, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia had no intention of shunning the Chinese company.

"Huawei's research is far bigger than Malaysia's capability," Dr Mahathir said in the conference hosted by Nikkei.

"We will make use of their technology as much as possible," he said, adding that Huawei had achieved tremendous advancement over American technology.

Dr Mahathir reportedly said he was not concerned over allegations of espionage activities, because "we are an open book."

According to Nikkei, Dr Mahathir urged the United States to make concessions in its disputes with China, including the spat over Huawei Technologies.

He warned that a failure to negotiate could lead to military conflict.

Dr Mahathir said the United States must accept that its strong research and development capability could also now be found in the East.

"'If I am not ahead, I will ban you, I will send warships' - that is not competition," Dr Mahathir said, adding: "That is making a threat."

At the same time, Dr Mahathir also spoke out against Beijing's military advances in the South China Sea.

"No warships should be stationed in the South China Sea," he said, adding that "a slight incident could lead to war.

"When two giants are fighting each other, we see that it is the grass that gets trampled," he said.