Dr M tells why EU-like body impossible for Asia

Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks at the Kyushu-Asia-Institute of Leadership in Fukuoka, Japan. (RTM pic)

PETALING JAYA: The contrasting backgrounds of Asian countries are making it difficult for the region to unite under a common body such as the European Union, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said during a talk delivered to a Japanese think tank.

The prime minister said countries in Asia are also reluctant to let go of the past.

He said in the case of Europe, its people and languages are not far apart from each other, while most systems of governance in European states are influenced by ancient Greek civilisation.

“But Asia is (made up of) people of very different origins, ethnicities and appearance,” he said, adding that the continent is not only populous and spread over a wide area, but also has diverse cultures and religions.

“So, as a result, there is a great deal of disparity between the performance of one country and another,” he said in his keynote speech at the Kyushu-Asia-Institute of Leadership in Fukuoka, Japan, today.

Mahathir also said it is easier for Europeans to apply new ideas than Asians.

He said Asia consists of disparate ideologies, ways of life as well as levels of economic achievement.

“Europeans, having learnt about disasters and death caused by the last world war, have managed to remain practically at peace with each other for the past 70 years.

“In Asia, we are still not giving up ideas of violence and wars in the conduct of our relationships,” he said, adding that former foes Germany and France now have good ties.

In contrast, Mahathir said Asian nations cannot get over the wars they fought decades ago.

“So we cannot come together to form any kind of Asian union and work together, the way the European Union works.”

But Mahathir said Asians have always been far ahead of Europeans in terms of ability and skills.

“When the Europeans were still living in caves, Asians had already established great civilisations in India, China and the Far East, including Japan.

“It is obvious that if Asians were not held back by historical backgrounds, they would have long ago made more progress than Europeans.

“There is much to be gained from forgetting the past, and working and making use of the greatly improved knowledge of science and technology that is benefitting the world today.” - FMT