THEY came to earn a better income for their families back home. Some of them work for companies that are creating jobs for Malaysians and advancing the nation’s technological prowess.

But rhetoric from the new Pakatan Harapan government has left Chinese nationals working in projects around Kuantan uneasy, with many saying they have no wish to return to Malaysia once their permits expire.

The new government’s decision to suspend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) sent tremors among the many contractors and workers involved in the railway project.

Some companies started laying off workers after the Finance Ministry ordered a halt to work on the project as the new administration seeks to renegotiate the deal – believed to be the most expensive of its type in the world.    

Those working for ECRL contractors have been sent back to China while those who remain at the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park are worried about their future in Malaysia.

Chen Yi, 34, from Sichuan province, is thinking of returning to China next month, even though his work permit expires in November.

“I feel the new government isn’t friendly to us. My friends and I don’t plan to stay here for long, or to rob locals of jobs.

“We’ll go back to China. The quality of life there isn’t too different from here. But it’s very stressful there. We came here to earn more so that our families could have a better life,” said Chen, who works for China MCC 19 Group.

The PH administration has vowed to review the ECRL as it said its price tag had been inflated and could balloon to RM81 billion.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had criticised the Najib-era project as having “strange” terms, such as that its loan must be kept in China instead being drawn here.

He said this led to suspicions that some of the money was being used to repay debts of troubled state firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MBD) and to buy certain companies.  

Chen said, contrary to popular belief, Chinese contractors introduced advanced technology to Malaysia.

His company, for instance, brought its latest H-beam steel production technology and built the first H-beam manufacturing plant in Southeast Asia in Kuantan.

Another worker, Wan Rongcheng, also from Sichuan, said another myth was that these firms only employed Chinese nationals.  

He said at the factory he works in, the ratio of Chinese to Malaysian workers was three to seven, while other factories’ ratio were two to eight.

“We brought the latest steel technology here. I hope this can be considered a contribution to Malaysia. We also created jobs. I hope the locals will not see us as enemies,” said Wan.

Despite a fondness for Malaysia, Wan said he may not return here after his work permit expires.

“We follow Malaysian news. Your PM (Dr Mahathir) seems to dislike China, and is more pro-Japan.

“Didn’t he say Chinese have robbed locals of jobs?” – July 16, 2018.