‘Mahathir needs to understand new world’

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad needs to comprehend the reality of the “new world”, where China is making an impact, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.

Salleh said China was now investing all over the world, going into partnerships and buying assets like never before in history, and this was a phenomenon which countries like Malaysia needed to accept or get left behind.

“Since the 1990s, China, which was a sleeping giant for hundreds of years, suddenly woke up and once awake, there was nothing that could stop them.

“It is futile trying to resist China’s great march forward just like it was futile to resist Western colonisation 500 years ago. China is on the move and no one can stop them,” Salleh wrote on his blog yesterday.

Mahathir, in his blog, had alleged the foreign direct investments from China, worth some RM150 billion, would involve selling more (Malaysian) land to foreigners.

Salleh said Mahathir was still thinking “old school” and does not realise that the world has changed from the time he was prime minister.

“We have been warned that while globalisation has a good side, it also means the creation of a borderless world and the end of protectionism.

“You cannot expect FDI (foreign direct investment) or money to flow into your country and yet not be prepared to relinquish control of certain assets.

“This is the reality of the ‘new world’ and Mahathir needs to wake up to this. The other alternative is to adopt a closed-door policy and move backwards and remain poor,” Salleh said. – Bernama