Muhyiddin slammed for China deals remark

PETALING JAYA: Former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim that investments from China will rob locals of their rice bowl has drawn a backlash from poli­ticians, the business community and netizens.

They said that foreign direct investment (FDI) from mainland China will be to Malaysia’s advantage, especially in this critical time of sluggish global growth.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai slammed Muhyiddin’s claim as ‘illogical’.

“It seems that he has changed his mind after shifting his political alliance.

“When he was deputy prime minister, he led missions to China to attract Chinese investors to Malaysia.

“This is clearly politically motiva­ted to undermine relations between both countries,” Liow said after chairing the MCA central committee meeting at Wisma MCA yesterday.

Liow gave an assurance that the Government would see to it that foreign investors fulfilled certain conditions to invest in the country.

Citing the construction of the Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double-track railway as an example, he said the contractor, China Railway, has to set up a joint venture with a Malaysian company to ensure that there was technology transfer.

Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah said Chinese investments would help boost the local economy and should be supported.

“To address concerns that the mainland investments will eat into the economic pie of Malaysians, the International Trade and Industry Ministry should strike a deal with the foreign investors to use as much local resources as possible for a win-win situation,” he said.

During an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Muhyiddin who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of inviting mainland Chinese investments into the country, which he claimed had become a source of unhappiness among locals, including the Malays and Chinese.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan pointed out the hypocrisy of Muhyiddin who had been eager to attract investments from Britain when he was in the Government.

“I ask Muhyiddin not to be a hypocrite in saying that Chinese investors are not welcome but ‘white people’ are. We will be accused of being racists,” he tweeted.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin also countered Muhyiddin’s remark, saying that Iskandar Malaysia was a proven contributor to the country’s economic growth.

“Why didn’t he voice his views when he was deputy prime minister,” said Khaled.

A retired diplomat said that Malaysia has not reached the stage where it could progress without foreign direct investments.

There was nothing peculiar about China investing in Malaysia because it has also poured investments into many other countries, including the African nations, Singapore, Australia and the United States, said the former diplomat.

Netizens hit out at Muhyiddin on The Star Online’s Facebook page.

Sun Ce said Chinese investments were crucial because Malaysia still lacked the capital and expertise for big infrastructure projects.

“Since when did foreign direct investments not benefit Malaysians – they hire local workforce and spur the economy.”

Zafri Khalis said that with other countries facing their own problems, it would be a waste if Malaysia let go of the opportunity brought by the inflow of Chinese investments.