Understanding the Belt and Road initiative

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (fifth from left) presented a souvenir to China's Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang after the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative: Malaysia-China Cultural and Arts Year at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. Also present was China Education Ministry Vocational Education Committee deputy chairman Prof Liu Yanshen (fourth from left) and MCA vice president Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung (third from left). SAMUEL ONG / THE STAR

PARTI Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leaders Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have made anti-China assertions, such as blaming Chinese nationals for taking away the rice bowl of Malaysians, criticising the Government for compromising national sovereignty and claiming that 700,000 Chinese nationals would be made Malaysian citizens.

My view is that they do not understand China’s “One Belt, One Road” (Obor) initiative. This severe lack of understanding on their part has led them to hold a warped and erroneous view of the initiative.