KUALA LUMPUR: China’s multi-billion ringgit investments to Malaysia should not put the nation’s sovereignty at stake, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the investments from China would only benefit the country economically.
“Any form of foreign direct investment (FDI) from any country has to take into consideration the country’s interests.
“There’s no such thing as putting the country’s sovereignty at stake,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters at Parliament lobby.
“Any perception that says otherwise should be ignored,” he said.
He was commenting on remarks made by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said Malaysia’s sovereignty was at stake following China’s investment in Malaysia.
Culture and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said Dr Mahathir was “jealous” that the government of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak could secure such investments from China.
He said Najib “is a man of his words and has principles in dealing with China” and the investments would not jeopardise the country’s sovereignty despite China seeking territorial claims over South China Sea.
“I think Dr Mahathir was thinking about his time as prime minister or minister.
“That time China was a communist country, but now China is different,” Nazri said.
“It will not affect us…The investment is big and it is not easy for a country to invest that much.
“When China wants to invest that much in Malaysia, this shows that China is confident how is a prime minister running the country,” said Nazri.
He said Dr Mahathir only “wanted to see Najib fall”.
“He is not happy, envious and just jealous,” he added.
On Wednesday, Malaysian and Chinese companies signed over 10 agreements in port construction, water desalination plants, e-commerce, solar panel manufacturing and construction.
They include the RM55bil East Coast Railway Line (ECRL).
Najib is on a week-long official visit to China.
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