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What's wrong in reviewing unfair China contracts, Teng asked

Penang BN is trying to divert attention from the absence of an LRT system in its election manifesto by questioning DAP's position on China investment, its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said.

Lim said state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow has refused to explain why his election manifesto did not have any mention of an LRT project.

"Instead, he tried to distract attention by asking about DAP's take on China investment.

"The DAP welcomes all foreign investment to Malaysia as long as it is in the interest of Malaysians and conforms to international norms of transparency and accountability," Lim said at a press conference in George Town today.

"There is also Chinese investment in the manufacturing electronic industry which is widely welcomed by the Penang government," he added.

"Contracts entered into must be honoured but what is wrong with renegotiating unfair contracts whether from China or other countries, to extract a better deal for Malaysians?" Lim asked.

He cited the case of the government's RM55 billion East Coast Railway Link (ECRL) project which was granted without an open tender.

"Why is there a problem with the Penang government's undersea tunnel project when it is granted by an open competitive tender but no problem with the ECRL when there is no open tender?" he queried.

Lim was responding to Teng (above) who had issued three statements on China investments saying it was an important issue but both Guan Eng and his father DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang had remained silent.

Teng claimed this showed they only wanted to protect their self-interests and were too afraid of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former premier who is currently Bersatu chairperson leading the opposition charge into GE14.

'Stop the borrowing'

Only April 19, Mahathir had pledged to review loans and investments from China if the opposition coalition won the polls which fall on May 9.

Malaysia has made large borrowings from China and may not be able to repay, Mahathir claimed.

He cited how Sri Lanka gave up ownership of its port of Hambantota to China on a 99-year lease in return for debt relief.

"We feel that we will stop the borrowing. We will try to renegotiate the terms of the borrowing.

"In the case of projects, we may have to study whether we would continue them or slow them down or we could renegotiate the terms," said the nonagenarian, who will contest the Langkawi seat in the coming elections.

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