§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will initiate discussions with the Malaysian Government on economic co-operation in view of the latter's decision to buy British exports only as a last resort because of (i) increased fees for non-EEC students, (ii) air traffic rights, (iii) the changes in Stock Exchange rules, and (iv) British reaction to the Malaysian purchase of the Guthrie Estates.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Carrington)The Government are naturally in touch with the Malaysian Government over a wide field, including economic matters, and we have already sought to dispel misunderstandings about the changes in the London Stock Exchange rules in relation to the purchase of the Guthrie Corporation by Permodalan Nasional Berhad.
The Government understand and sympathise with the goals of the Malaysian Government's economic policy and will continue to take every opportunity to discuss current aspects of, and future prospects for, economic co-operation against that background.