Robert Kuok salutes Dr Mahathir for ‘saving the country’ and meets with Chinese ambassador on China-Malaysia cooperation.
Billionaire Robert Kuok called on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at his office in Perdana Putra today.
In a series of tweets by Dr Mahathir, the Hong Kong-based tycoon could be seen shaking hands with the premier and thereafter, saluting him.
“I salute you, you’ve saved the country,” Kuok tells a chuckling Dr Mahathir.
“Of course, with Daim’s help,” he added, in reference to Tun Daim Zainuddin who heads the Council of Eminent Persons, of which Kuok is also a member.
Dr Mahathir, in response to Kuok, said: “I need your help now.”
Kuok arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to join a meeting of the Council of Eminent Persons.
He urged Malaysians to put their trust in the Council, saying those selected were excellent people.
The other members of the council are former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Petronas president Mohd Hassan Merican, and economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram.
The council has thus far announced the setting up of two committees on institutional reforms and 1MDB.
Kuok also met with Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian on the future of China-Malaysia cooperation.
During the 90-minute meeting, Bai Tian spoke highly of Kuok’s contribution to the development of Malaysia and also on the progress of China-Malaysia relations.
“We expect him to continue to contribute to the future development of China-Malaysia cooperation,” he said in a statement today, adding that both agreed that friendly cooperation would be in the fundamental interest of both countries.
The statement said that both Bai Tian and Kuok believed that Malaysia, as an important country along the 21st-century maritime silk road under the ‘Belt & Road’ Initiative, could further benefit from mutually-beneficial and win-win cooperation with China.
“They recall the sound development of bilateral relations during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s last service as prime minister, and are confident that during the term of the new government, China-Malaysia relations will achieve greater progress,” it added.