By BERNAMA

Port Moresby • Malaysia will continue to fight for free trade that is fair in order to protect the interests of developing nations, said Prime Minister (PM) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said it is not strange that developed nations want the continuation of free trade or a globalised world because these ideas originated from them and were influenced by multinational corporations that own a lot of products.

“If we want to enter the manufacturing field, we need to protect our own industries. If we don’t do this, we will not be able to compete with these developed nations.

“These countries definitely do not want us to be able to compete against them. This opinion (of mine) is different because the idea of free trade comes from them and it was shaped for their needs,” he told Malaysian reporters here last night.

The PM said the reality of the matter is the majority of the corporations from these developed nations want larger markets including those from less developed countries.

Dr Mahathir led the Malaysian delegation to the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit from Nov 17-18. — Bernama