(April 4): China is open to talks with Malaysia on forming an Asian Monetary Fund, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, amid the world’s growing impatience with the dominance of the US dollar.
Anwar said he proposed setting up the fund at the Boao forum in Hainan last week, stressing the need to reduce reliance on the dollar or the International Monetary Fund.
“When I had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he immediately said, ‘I refer to Anwar’s proposal on the Asian Monetary Fund,' and he welcomed discussions,” Anwar told Parliament on Tuesday (April 4). He was on a state visit to China last week to steer ties post Covid.
“There is no reason for Malaysia to continue depending on the dollar,” he added. Malaysia’s central bank is already working on enabling the two nations to negotiate on trade matters using the ringgit and yuan, said Anwar, who doubles as the finance minister.
The Malaysian leader’s comments come just months after former officials in Singapore discussed what economies in the region should be doing to mitigate risks of a still-strong dollar that’s weakened local currencies and become a tool of economic statecraft.
Anwar said on Tuesday he initially mooted forming the Asian Monetary Fund during his first stint as the finance minister in the 1990s. His idea at that time didn’t gain traction, as the US dollar was still seen as strong, he said.
“But now with the strength of the economies of China, Japan and others, I think we should discuss this — at least consider an Asian Monetary Fund, and, secondly, the use of our respective currencies,” he said.
Anwar also revealed to lawmakers the breakdown of the record RM170 billion investment China had committed to Malaysia. This includes an initial investment of RM2 billion this year in Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and Proton’s Automative Hi-Tech Valley project, which will later be increased to RM32 billion.
Rongsheng Petrochemical Co will also increase its activities in Pengerang, Johor with an RM80 billion project, Anwar said. Rongsheng is one of China’s biggest refiners.
For more Parliament stories, click here.
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