‘DAP contradicts self on Belt and Road’

Party’s new stance over China’s trade framework a slap to its own face, says Wee

PETALING JAYA: The DAP has been slammed for making a “U-turn” by supporting China’s Belt and Road initiative when its leaders had been critical of MCA’s efforts in pushing for the China-led landbased and maritime economic routes.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said DAP had taken a completely different stance following a courtesy call on China’s ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang on Feb 22.

“Does DAP in general – and its political education bureau head Liew Chin Tong in particular – now agree with MCA’s efforts in promoting the Belt and Road, and admit their criticisms were baseless?” asked Dr Wee in a statement.

Liew had earlier accused MCA of being China’s agent for pushing for the Belt and Road after MCA formed a Belt and Road Centre and a People’s Republic of China Affairs Committee.

Dr Wee described the change of stance as a “powerful slap to DAP’s own face”.

“We welcome DAP’s acceptance of China’s Belt and Road initiative.

“This shows MCA’s efforts in pushing for local entrepreneurs to grasp business opportunities from the initiative and enhancing bilateral ties between China and Malaysia, were correct and far-sighted, so much so that even DAP cannot deny it,” he said.

Dr Wee, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, drew attention to DAP’s apparently opportunistic nature.

“When the party is trying to please Malay populists, it echoes the anti-China statements of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

“But when it wants to capitalise on cordial Malaysia-China relations, its top leaders pay a courtesy call to China’s ambassador and even release statements as if it appreciates the relationship between the two countries and welcomes investments from China just to please the Chinese community here,” he said.

Apart from Liew’s comments, Dr Wee said that Pribumi leaders – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin – had made anti-China assertions, such as accusing Chinese nationals of taking away the livelihood of Malaysians, criticising the Government for compromising national sovereignty and claiming that 700,000 Chinese nationals would become Malaysian citizens.

“DAP made no effort to refute them. Some of its leaders even attempted to ride on the issue and provoked negative sentiments, especially among certain Malay populist groups,” added Dr Wee.

On Feb 22, Liew posted on his Facebook page a photo of DAP leaders, including himself and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, calling on Dr Huang.

He said that they discussed the Belt and Road framework, investments in Penang, the Malaysian economy, tourism, agriculture as well as education.

In his post, however, Liew did not mention his previous criticisms of MCA and did not respond to comments reminding him of his earlier statements.

Meanwhile, a statement on the Chinese embassy website in Malaysia said that, during the courtesy call, Lim said the Penang government was willing to cooperate with China under the Belt and Road framework.

It quoted Lim as saying that more and more Chinese enterprises were investing in Malaysia since the introduction of Belt and Road, and Malaysia welcomed the positive development made possible by the friendly bilateral ties.

When the party is trying to please Malay populists, it echoes the anti-China statements of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysa. Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong