Dr M shooing away country’s golden goose, says Liow

BENTONG: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is driving away the golden goose with his stance against Chinese investment, says Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The MCA president said China was supporting local businesses and infrastructure developments, including some in Bentong, that would boost Malaysia’s economic growth.

“People of Bentong and Pahang have been waiting years for an East Coast Rail Link and yet, Dr Mahathir wants to chase away this benefactor and undermine our ties,” he said.

Liow was speaking to residents of Kampung Baru Sungai Dua here during the launch of 1Malaysia People’s Housing (PR1MA) Pahang project.

Liow was referring to the former prime minister’s remarks that he would review loans and investments from China if Pakatan Harapan were to come into power.

Liow added that bird’s nests, durians and palm oil were among Malaysian agricultural products that were exported to China.

He told the residents that Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian promised that China would not curb imports of palm oil and palm oil-based products from Malaysia.

“Bai said China will not set any limit on the import,” he said.

In Petaling Jaya, Malaysia-China Friendship Association president Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan said while it was within the right of any government to review bilateral projects within the legal framework provided for, the national interest should be of utmost priority.

He said Malaysia’s business and economy should be taken into account if a review was warranted.

“In the case of China, what is important is that such a review should not be seen as singling out China as Malaysia also has projects with many other countries,” he said.

Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce secretary-general Kevin Siah concurred, saying that regardless of who formed the Government, the priority was still to ensure that the country’s interests were taken cared of.

He said this included the country’s finances and the companies.

“We welcome whoever that wins. We still welcome foreign investments and any investment coming in has to benefit our rakyat,” said Siah.

In an interview with The Asso- ciated Press on Wednesday, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia would stop borrowing from China and Chinese investments would be reviewed if the Opposition were to be elected on the May 9 polls.

He also allegedly said that Malaysia had borrowed a large amount of money from China and might not be able to repay it.

“We feel that we will stop borrowing. We will try to renegotiate the terms of the borrowing,” he said.

“In the case of projects, we may have to study whether we would continue or we would slow down or we would renegotiate the terms.”