Ex-premier Najib Abdul Razak questioned if Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was accusing Chinese state-owned companies of conspiring with the previous BN government in bribery.

This was after Mahathir told a forum in Beijing that there were instances of people within the previous BN government demanding a 30 percent stake from China investors who wanted to invest in Malaysia. 

The prime minister did not mention which project he was referring to but Najib raised the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project awarded to the China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) and two pipeline projects awarded to the China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPPB).

"CCCC is a publicly-listed company controlled by the Chinese government and is a major global player with an annual sales value of US$70 million (RM280 million).

"CPPB is a one of the biggest petroleum pipeline construction company in the world and is fully-owned by the giant China National Petroleum Corporation, which is fully controlled by the Chinese government.

"Does it make sense for BN to demand a 30 percent stake from Chinese state-owned companies as a bribe?

"Is Mahathir accusing these Chinese giant companies of conspiring with BN to commit a crime?" he asked in a statement tonight.

Najib described Mahathir's speech at the China Entrepreneur Club Leaders Forum at China World Summit Wing Hotel in Beijing as a "political ceramah".

"Mahathir should stop telling stories and show proof to back his claim.

"As a prime minister, he should not be playing politics in front of foreign investors," said Najib.