‘FOREST CITY WILL BENEFIT ALL’
Malaysians, foreign investors, not only Chinese, will gain from development, says China envoy
CHUAH BEE KIM KULAI news@nst.com.my
THE Forest City mega project in Johor will attract an international community of residents, investors and businessmen and will not be flooded with only Chinese nationals as claimed by certain quarters.
China’s ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Huang Huikang, said such negative speculations diverted attention from the huge benefits that Malaysians and foreign investors would get from the unique development.
“Forest City is an iconic green development like no other. It will put Johor on the international map.
“I do not deny there will be Chinese citizens working and staying here, but there will be other nationalities, too.
“It’s also not possible that it will be a ghost town,” said Huang at the end of his visit to the site of two Chinese investments in Johor yesterday.
Since March 7, Huang had visited 14 projects in seven states.
His visit to Forest City, near Gelang Patah and D&Y Textile (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in Sedenak near here, was his last two stops in the nationwide tour.
Huang said despite China’s stringent controls on its capital outflow, it would not affect investments in Malaysia, such as Forest City.
“China does not encourage the buying of a football team or a cinema in foreign countries. What is permitted and what is not is clear cut,” he said.
Huang said he believed more companies from China would invest in Malaysia due to the friendship and strategic partnerships.
“Besides property development, we have Chinese investors in the manufacturing, solar technology, energy, petrochemical, biotechnology, chemical and textile sectors.”
He urged the Malaysian government to improve efficiency and make it easier for foreign talents to come in, if there was not enough local talent that met a project's requirements.
He said he would like to iron out issues with the Malaysian government, especially on what he alleged were “negative attacks” on certain Chinese investors in Malaysia.
“We use the best and most advanced technology in our projects. We do not snatch the rice-bowls of the locals. On the contrary, we continue to help businesses and create jobs in Malaysia.
“There was a company in Malaysia which was set to close down by October next year, had we not come in and provided employment for 350 staff,” he said.
Huang, who earlier visited Forest City, said he was satisfied with the mega development.