As China’s investments in Malaysia become an increasingly prominent issue in the lead-up to the forthcoming general election, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian expressed his hopes that the relationship between both countries would not be politicised.

“I have much confidence in the China-Malaysia relationship. It is evolved from both nations’ friendship... We are having the best relationship (in areas such as) trade, infrastructure, agriculture, culture and education.

“Nobody can deny our ties are getting stronger. We do not hope for the relationship between China and Malaysia to be politicised. We hope the friendship can benefit the people and will smoothly pass through the coming Malaysian 14th general election.

“I believe our relationship will be even better in the future,” Bai told reporters after attending MCA's One Belt One Road 2.0 initiative at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Benefits of Chinese training

Previously, Bai said China companies had trained many Malaysians, which in turn had benefited Malaysia.

“For example, Huawei trained 100,000 people. Malaysians formed the majority (of trainees).”

Pakatan Harapan prime ministerial candidate Dr Mahathir Mohamad has voiced his opposition towards two China-led projects: The East Coast Rail Line, which was developed by China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), and Forest City, built by Chinese residential developer Country Garden.

Malaysiakini has published special reports which detail how Forest City and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park were mostly reliant on labour and materials from China.