Malaysian PM in Venezuela - NST

IT is not often that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, turns up at the airport to greet a visiting leader but he will do so for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whom he calls "my brother".

Venezuelan Foreign Ministry officials said normally Chavez would despatch his foreign minister to welcome leaders of other nations but this time around he will accompany Abdullah throughout the Prime Minister’s three-day official visit here.

Chavez is scheduled to welcome Abdullah at the Simon Bolivar International Airport this morning and had informed his foreign ministry officials that he wanted to attend all events lined up for the Malaysian Prime Minister.

Abdullah’s visit coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Venezuela-Malaysia diplomatic relations established on Dec 18, 1986, and reciprocates Chavez visit to Malaysia this August.

An aide to Abdullah said the prime minister was expected to push for stronger economic co-operation, especially in oil and gas and palm oil sectors, during his visit.

"The visit is to heighten economic collaboration, explore new sectors and open new frontiers after 20 years of bilateral relations with Venezuela," said the aide.

Despite 20 years of diplomatic relations there is still no significant investment between the two countries and Abdullah and Chavez are expected to discuss ways to address the situation.

Abdullah is scheduled to embark on a helicopter tour of the Orinoco Belt and visit projects under Venezuelan state-owned company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA).

Venezuela has 77.2 billion barrels of proven conventional oil reserves and PDVSA estimates that the Orinoco Belt, a territory which occupies the southern strip of the eastern Orinoco River Basin, has 236 billion barrels of heavy crude, which would make it the largest petroleum reserve in the world.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and 40 Malaysian businessmen will also attend a business luncheon where Abdullah will deliver a keynote address.

The only recorded Malaysian investment in Venezuela is a paltry RM30,000 venture dealing in medical products.

Venezuelan investment in Malaysia include a salsa discotheque at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur and a veterinary company in Bandar Sunway, Selangor.

A letter of intent will also be signed between Golden Hope Plantations Berhad and PDVSA for the formulation and development of agricultural and industrial projects for the production of palm oil in Venezuela.

Venezuela’s climate is suitable to grow oil palm but the hectarage for the crop is negligible.

Malaysia-Venezuela trade last year was US$39 million (RM140 million) while during the first nine months of this year Malaysia’s exports to the South American nation totalled US$33 million which included electrical and electronic products, rubber products, chemical products and machinery.

My comments ? I believe that the recognition that the present PM is enjoying is the harvest of the immediate past PM of Malysia. Comparing the two, it is quite obvious that AAB has not done much in the three (3) years that he sits in the chair except increasing the petrol price, awarding contracts to his son on negotiated basis, allowing his SIL to be the deputy UMNO youth and angering the Chinese community with his remarks.

Therefore, it is better for AAB to spend more time in Malaysia to hear the grouses of the masses. After all, he used to say that "Work with me not work form me". Or is that motto is diminishing in the horizon with the coming of his RM 30 million yatch?

There are many more things that can be done locally. There are damages to be repaired or is this the way AAB runs when Soros did not meet him? I mean I have no recollection that Soros met him when Soros was in town last week. Anybody can confirm that?