‘China only third highest investor here’

PETALING JAYA: The amount of Chinese investments in Malaysia is only third highest after Singapore and Japan, said Barisan Nasional strategic communications director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Debunking the Opposition’s claim that Malaysia’s sovereignty is being sold to China, he said the amount of cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) from China made up only 11.5% of total FDI in Malaysia in 2017.

“The cumulative investment from China (including Hong Kong) in Malaysia for 2017 amounted to RM65bil, which is lower than investments from Singapore (RM116.3bil) and Japan (RM71.6bil),” he said.

In a statement, Abdul Rahman said Malaysia, as a country that practises an open economy, would of course accept investments from other countries, and not just from China.

“If investments flowing into Malaysia are affected, not many jobs can be created for Malaysians and opportunities to earn income would be reduced,” he said in the statement yesterday.

He said the total amount of FDI in Malaysia in 2017 stood at RM565bil, with investments from European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, United Kingdom and Denmark, and also the United States.

He also noted that the Saudi Arabian company Saudi Aramco had recently agreed to invest RM27bil in the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development project in Pengerang.

Abdul Rahman said “more propaganda” was being spread by the Opposition in view of the general election.

“The narrative of Barisan Nasional selling off the country’s sovereignty to China is viralling again on social media.

“This false propaganda is not based on actual facts and figures but on malicious allegations to create a negative perception,” he added.