Exclusive | Nothing to fear from China, says Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad, but lopsided deals must end
Prime minister says Malaysia ‘can’t quarrel with such a big market’ – and will welcome foreign investment that adds jobs, transfers skills and broadens the global market for Malaysian products
The 92-year-old leader’s setting out of the terms for better relations in an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post came in the wake of widespread unease that his defeated predecessor, Najib Razak, had been too lax in approving Chinese-backed projects that offered little value to local players.
Mahathir’s comments were the most extensive yet on Asia’s biggest economy after his Pakatan Harapan coalition staged a stunning victory in a general election in May, dislodging the long-ruling Barisan Nasional bloc.
WATCH: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir says he is not anti-China
Najib has strenuously fought off that insinuation and denies links to the scandal – for which he is currently being investigated and is likely to be arraigned.
Najib is widely viewed by foreign policy observers as having brought his country closer to China during the last few years of his nine-year premiership.