PRIME Minister Najib Razak has defended Malaysia’s investments in the United States, saying he was not out to “curry favour” with President Donald Trump, The Star reports.

He rejected criticism levelled at Malaysia Airlines Bhd’s purchase of Boeing planes and increased investments by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), which he presented to Trump in a bilateral meeting on Tuesday. It was Najib’s first visit to the White House.

“They are spinning it as if I am here to buy US influence. That is another negative spin which is not true at all,” The Star quoted him as saying at the end of his working trip to Washington, DC, on Wednesday.

Najib said it was untrue that Malaysia would not get anything in return.

“When we buy Boeing planes, we are turning Malaysia Airlines into a competitive airline. When other airlines have Dreamliners, we must also have Dreamliners.

“This is the transformation of Malaysia Airlines, the rationalisation of Malaysia Airlines, which is working.”

Malaysia promised the US investments of some US$24 billion, including purchasing 33 new aircraft from Boeing for MAS. These include eight 787 Dreamliners.

Najib also told Trump that the EPF was looking to invest another US$3 billion to US$4 billion on infrastructure redevelopment in the US, to enable Malaysian contributors to reap the dividends. – September 15, 2017.