McLaren
CONFIDENTIAL
2 -
}
follow later, in particular corvettes. The Prime Minister asked whether the Malaysian Government was content with the memorandum of understanding covering our defence relationship.
Dr. Mahathir said that he was, although it might need to be extended. Dr. Mahathir added that the Malaysians needed to build residential accommodation for their armed forces and wondered whether this might qualify for some sort of assistance such as ATP. The Prime Minister said he was rather dubious whether this would fall within the terms of ATP, but would make enquiries.
Dr. Mahathir confirmed, in answer to a question, that the Pergau project would definitely go ahead.
Dr. Mahathir then turned to the case of Lorrain E. Osman who had been detained in this country for some years while the Hong Kong Government sought his extradition. He had written to Mrs. Thatcher about this but had not had a satisfactory reply. The main point was that Osman did not want to serve a jail sentence in Hong Kong because he feared that he would come to a sticky end in a Chinese prison. The Malaysians wondered whether it would be possible for him to serve any sentence in a Malaysian or even British jail. The Prime Minister said that he was not briefed on this but would make enquiries and let Dr. Mahathir have a reply.
The Prime Minister asked about progress in Malaysia's campaign against drugs. Dr. Mahathir said that he thought the worst of the problem had been contained. The mandatory death penalty had been an effective deterrent.
I am copying this letter to Simon Webb (Ministry of Defence), Martin Stanley (Department of Trade and Industry) and Suma Chakrabarti (Overseas Development Administration).
CHARLES POWELL
Simon Gass, Esq.,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
૬
ence of th
nvince
ven th istica chase
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.