Pribumi slams China investments
(The Star) – The opposition Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has strongly criticised the inflow of mainland China investments into Malaysia, saying that the aggressive move to attract such investments will threaten Malaysians.
Its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) attacked the Prime Minister’s investment efforts, accusing Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of “opening the floodgates for the foreign power to influence local political parties”.
He claimed that local Malays and Chinese were unhappy with such a development as these mainland Chinese investments would rob local industries of economic opportunities.
In an interview with Sin Chew Daily headlined “China robs rice bowls of locals,” the newspaper also quoted the former deputy prime minister’s belittling of MCA’s role in helping to bring Chinese investments into Malaysia.
“Najib is trying to woo the Malaysian Chinese community back into Barisan Nasional’s fold by attributing the achievement of improving trade relations with China to MCA.
“Najib does not need to rely on MCA as an intermediary as the Malaysian government could have dealt with the Chinese government directly,” he said.
Muhyiddin’s remarks are in sharp contrast to comments made by prominent US-based political scientist Dr Heng Pek Koon, who has said that China’s recent rise gives MCA a very important role to play in the local political arena.
Dr Heng noted that the last couple of years have been very exciting for MCA, in tandem with the inflow of investments from China.
“MCA is now the favourite interlocutor or middleman for the Communist Party of China (CPC) in terms of Chinese business investments in Malaysia.
“Umno realises that it needs MCA to deal with the CPC, as MCA provides the intermediary services between Umno and the Malaysian Chinese business community in facilitating the implementation of Chinese infrastructure and investments,” she said.
Dr Heng is a director at the Asean Studies Initiative and an assistant professor at the American University’s School of International Service.
In September, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang also expressed his appreciation for MCA’s role in promoting business with China, including bringing investments to Malaysia.
In April, Song Tao, China’s Minister of International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China lauded MCA’s efforts in promoting good bilateral ties and said both parties would continue to enhance the exchange of experiences between party officials at all levels to realise the ideal vision of working together.
