Malaysia will use Huawei 'as much as possible', says Mahathir

TOKYO/SINGAPORE — Malaysia will continue using Huawei products "as much as possible" said the country’s prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, despite security concerns surrounding the Chinese firm.

Dr Mahathir reasoned that Huawei's research is "far bigger than the whole of Malaysia's research capabilities”, reported Malaysian news agency Bernama.

"So we try to make use of their technology as much as possible," he explained.

Speaking at the Future of Asia forum in Tokyo on Thursday (May 30), Dr Mahathir added that Malaysia would not be deterred by the security concerns around Huawei.

Dr Mahathir said: "Yes, there may be some spying. But what is there to spy (on) exactly in Malaysia? We are an open book."

"Everybody knows, if any country wants to invade Malaysia, they can walk through, and we will not resist because it's a waste of time."

Dr Mahathir's remarks come after Huawei was placed on a trade blacklist by the US government citing national security concerns, amid rising tensions between the US and China.

The move effectively bans American companies from conducting business with the Chinese firm. Several countries have blocked Huawei from working on their mobile networks and some global tech companies have shunned the company since then.

Dr Mahathir added that "the west" should accept that Asian countries are now able to produce competitive products, rather issuing threats, reported AFP.

"I understand Huawei has tremendous advance(s) over American technology even."

"As much as (before) we expected everything from the west, now it is coming from the east," he added. AGENCIES