WSJ claims China offered to bail out 1MDB. Now, all eyes are on the Chinese projects in the country.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese Embassy here described as “groundless” a report accusing its government of trying to influence the investigation into the 1MDB scandal.

Pooh-poohing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, the embassy said China had all along adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of another country.

“China never attaches political conditions on our cooperation with other countries.

“We promote the Belt and Road initiative under the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, with an aim to pursue shared development and prosperity.

“We do not accept any groundless accusation made against China,” the embassy said in a statement issued yesterday.

The embassy said China and Malaysia had all along treated each other as friendly neighbours and sincere partners.

“Based on the principle of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, the two countries have been jointly promoting the Belt and Road initiative and expanding pragmatic cooperation, which contributes significantly to the economic development of both countries and brings about tangible benefits to our people,” the embassy said.

The embassy said with 2019 marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between both countries, there would be new opportunities to be tapped in the bilateral sphere.

“The Chinese side is committed to working together with the Pakatan Harapan government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) towards creating a brighter future for China-Malaysia relations,” it added.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in a Facebook posting, also dismissed the WSJ report that China offered to bail out 1MDB in 2016 in exchange for lucrative contracts.

He said Beijing neither offered to bail out the state investment firm, nor bug the Hong Kong residences of WSJ journalists reporting on the scandal.

“As reported by WSJ and as publicly known, this too has never happened.

“Malaysia had continued its efforts and promised to sign a settlement agreement with the Abu Dhabi government-owned International Petroleum Investment Corporation to ensure that all money supposedly missing from 1MDB is returned by Dec 31, 2020,” he said in a point-by-point rebuttal against the report.