CHINA is upset with Malaysia over the Pakatan Harapan government’s decision to cancel the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), former prime minister Najib Razak said.
He said Beijing was angry as the project was a key component to China’s Belt and Road Initiative which Chinese president Xi Jinping wanted as his legacy.
“What China is angry about is the ECRL project, it is part of the initiative which is close to the heart of President Xi.
“When we cancelled, he got angry because it was his project. He views this project as one that it beneficial to both Malaysia and China,” Najib said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
In a post that accompanied the video, Najib wrote that the video was of him speaking to residents and Umno members in Tanjung Malim last Sunday.
The former Umno president also said that the new government was reaping the benefits of his administration’s hard work.
“When they went to China, there is nothing new. It is all that I have done,” Najib said.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad visited China last month to discuss certain deals, such as the ECRL and two pipeline projects, that were agreed to during Najib’s administration. At the end of the visit Dr Mahathir said China understood the reasons for cancelling the projects, citing Malaysia’s high national debt.
Najib also pointed out that it was he who brought Alibaba co-founder and chief Jack Ma to invest in Malaysia.
“Jack Ma, I was the one who brought him to Malaysia. We are leading this region. Jack Ma picked Malaysia. He told me he wanted Malaysia first, compared to other countries,” he said.
The Pekan lawmaker added that claims by PH and Dr Mahathir that he had sold Malaysia’s sovereignty was false and even several PH ministers themselves have admitted otherwise.
“It is not right to say we have sold our sovereignty to China. That is not true.
“Now, the Johor Menteri Besar has said the Forest City project is good. The Malacca Chief Minister has also said that Melaka Gateway is good.
“They say something but the PM says something else,” said Najib, referring to the two projects that involve Chinese funds.
He said Malaysia should not burn its bridges with friendly countries as the country was small and not able to sustain itself.
“We need to have friends because we are not a big country. If we do not make friends, we will be in trouble.
“Lastly, the ones who will suffer will be the people, the ones who will suffer are the Felda people, the Proton workers and the tourism agencies… even durian sellers have no market,” Najib said. – September 11, 2018.
Comments
Posted 7 years ago by Azlee Ahmad · Reply
More importantly, the Malaysians are happy to see a brighter future when debts are cut.
Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply
For a Chinese president to create a legacy... Malaysians should die with uncertainty.. Najib is Real ass and half
Posted 7 years ago by Aslam Pillai · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by [email protected] · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Thiruchelvam Thirunavukarasu · Reply
Posted 7 years ago by Lawrence lim Kok wah · Reply