Najib pleased Dr M and Pakatan back Proton-Geely tie-up

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he is happy that carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd’s decision to sell a 49.9% stake to China’s Zhejiang Geely Group is now getting support from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pakatan Harapan.

In a statement, Najib took a dig at the Prime Minister’s previous criticism of the sale as well as the Forest City in Johor and Melaka Gateway projects.

Najib pointed out that Dr Mahathir and his government were now singing a different tune.

Dr Mahathir witnessed the signing of agreement between Proton and Geely on Saturday to set up a Proton manufacturing plant in China.

Najib noted how Dr Mahathir had previously admitted to weeping when thinking of Proton shares that were sold to Geely.

He added that Proton, Forest City and Melaka Gateway were the main issues cited by Dr Mahathir and Pakatan before the 14th General Election and accused him of selling out the country.

“Now the Pakatan government is very proud of Proton-Geely,” he said.

Najib said the Pakatan government also announced in Parliament that the government did not have objections to allowing Forest City to sell freehold property to foreigners.

He also said the Melaka chief minister had announced that the Melaka Gateway project was very important to the state’s development.

“Although Barisan and I were slandered at the time, I am happy that steps taken by the previous Barisan government have proven to be benefiting the country and the rakyat,” he said.