Jack Ma, Tun M meet in Putrajaya

PETALING JAYA (June 18): Alibaba Group founder and executive chairman Jack Ma met Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya today.

The former left the one-hour meeting this morning thoroughly impressed with the latter’s grasp of technology.

“I am surprised by his knowledge about technology… it was a very good meeting,” he told Bernama.

During the meeting, they discussed a number of ideas about lifting more Malaysians out of poverty and supporting more young people and small businesses.

Ma had paid a visit to Kuala Lumpur to open an Alibaba office in Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur later today.

Last year, he had launched the world’s first Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) in Malaysia which aims to promote the growth of e-commerce by providing a state-of-the-art platform for SMEs and enterprises to conduct their businesses and services.

The project was spared the axe by the new Pakatan Harapan administration which took power after the 14^th general elections in May which has sought to review numerous projects backed by China in a bid to control costs.

Ma was appointed as the country’s digital economy advisor by the previous government.

Last night, he had reportedly met with new Finance Minsiter Lim Guan Eng over an informal dinner.