- KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia’s government says it is securing advice from international scientists and economists on ways to speed up development through reforms in its palm oil industry, health care and education.
The efforts come as Prime Minister Najib Razak’s administration struggles with public complaints about stagnant standards of living and rising costs ahead of national elections widely expected within a year.
Najib’s scientific policy adviser A.H. Zakri said Wednesday the prime minister met a 42-member panel of technological and economic experts in New York this week to discuss Malaysia’s efforts to become a high-income nation by 2020.
Zakri said the government is working with the independent New York Academy of Sciences to attract foreign investment for various Malaysian infrastructure and research projects.