PM: We’ll protect China-Malaysia ties

SERDANG: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says the Government will not allow anyone to undermine the strong bilateral ties between Malaysia and China.

The Prime Minister said a former national leader had stated that if the Opposition managed to wrest power in the country, it would cancel all contracts with China.

“We cannot allow this. If the Opposition takes over, the relationship with China will deteriorate,” he said during the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia’s (Hua Zong) Chinese New Year celebration at Wisma Huazong in Seri Kembangan yesterday.

The federation represents 118 Chinese associations and guilds nationwide.

Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was reported to have said that the Opposition would review several mega projects which it deemed unnecessary if it takes over Putrajaya in the coming general election.

Najib said the mutual benefits of the China-Malaysia relationship were enormous and that these ties would be further strengthened under his leadership.

He said his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein was the first South-East Asian leader to establish diplomatic links with China in 1974 and the people in China remembered him for this effort.

It was the right decision, Najib said, as ties between both countries in various fields were flourishing.

Najib said some Opposition politicians were trying to sow hatred against the Government by accusing it of “surrendering” Malaysia’s sovereignty to China.

Among the accusations were that those from China who bought condominiums in Forest City were promised citizenships.

Najib reaffirmed that the Government would keep providing political and economic stability for all Malaysians to prosper.

He also said the Chinese community would not be deprived of access to Chinese education, as the Government would allow the opening of more Chinese schools when the need arose.

In his speech, Hua Zong president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah said Najib’s persistence in boosting Malaysia-China trade ties had resulted in more investors from China investing here through participation in mega projects such as the Melaka Gateway, East Coast Rail Link and Digital Free Trade Zone.

“Hence, attacks from various parties on China’s capital involvement are baseless and stem from the envy of partisan politics,” said Pheng.

Also present at the celebration were Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong and Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian.