Veteran former news editor A Kadir Jasin has pointed out the irony of Umno vowing to fight what they describe as a "Chinese" DAP, while its own president is surrendering the country's strategic interests to China.

"Strange that at a time when Umno is spreading propaganda for people to fear and hate the 'Chinese' DAP, its president is very intimate with China and is giving away strategic and iconic projects to companies owned by the Chinese government," he said in a blog posting today.

Even though it was former premier Abdul Razak who first opened relations with China during his administration in the 60s, Kadir said Najib's actions differed from that of his father.

He said the relationship between Malaysia and China during Abdul Razak's time was one of equals, but this is no longer the case.