Ramon Navaratnam, chairperson of the Asli Centre of Public Policy Studies, has hailed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s recent visit to China, as a huge success.
He described the multi-billion deals sealed as bold, bright and beneficial, not only to the government and the economy but also to the people.
About RM143 billion worth of business investments were signed with 14 memorandums of understanding, plus 16 government-to-government agreements were also inked.
“This is to be fair, no mean achievement by any standards. Credit must therefore be given,” Ramon said in a statement today.
He also said both Najib and Chinese President Xi Jinping, their ministers and officials can take much pride in achieving this major investment breakthrough, to enhance Malaysia-China relations for decades to come.
“We can learn from this unique experience in a mutually beneficial partnership, to raise our collaboration with Indonesia and India to make Asia more peaceful, prosperous and progressive.
“Indeed, we could all together make Asia the Centre of World Economic Sustainable Growth, within the context of the new United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals initiative.
“May this Malaysia-China impressive investment deal, be the start of a new era of eastern economic well-being and peace,” he added.
Ramon also expressed hope that more details of the investment projects would be announced soon so that every single Malaysian can then better appreciate the content and composition of the total investment deal.
He suggested details of this deal should be made readily available to Malaysians to protect the integrity of this Malaysia-China great leap forward.
“Spell out the details of how these massive infrastructure contracts would be priced.
“If the contracts are to be negotiated, then the concern is that we may indeed pay much more than the international market prices.
“Of course ‘open tendering’ is always the best practice, as it reduces the likelihood of price fixing, corruption and overpricing,” Ramon said.
Ramon also stressed any concerns, real or imaginary, reasonable or absurd on these deals, have to be addressed seriously to win greater public support in both countries that will last on a sustainable long term basis.
‘Malaysia is a very open economy’
Touching on some Malaysians who have reacted against this significant China investment, he reminded them that Malaysia is a very open economy, and a major world trading partner which has always encouraged investment from all sources through open and friendly investment, trade policies.
“How come we have always urged more United States, United Kingdom, Japanese, German and other country investments all these years?
“Have we suddenly become myopic and parochial and even racially biased in trade and investment as well?,” he asked.
He said if some extreme Malaysians express and even demonstrate their discomfort over the growing China presence, they will undermine great prospects to prosper with China.
Ramon encouraged fellow Malaysians to reject the narrow, parochial views of extremists, racists and bigots, who may now want to have their negative say and damaging influence, in international and domestic economics as well.
- Bernama
