Malaysian Govt Ties With China Strong, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- The ruling Barisan Nasional government will not allow any attempts to undermine the strong bilateral ties presently enjoyed by China and Malaysia, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. He said relations between the two countries were in the right direction and flourishing well in all sectors. However, he said, some opposition leaders were trying to confuse and sow hatred among the people by accusing the government of surrendering the country's sovereignty to China . Citing Chinese national property buyers in Forest City, Johor , which the opposition had alleged would be getting Malaysia citizenship, and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, which is said to be off limit to Malaysians, Najib said these lies were meant to sow distrust between Malaysia and China. "In fact, our previous leader said if the opposition come into power, they will cancel all contracts with China. "We cannot allow this. If the opposition take over, relationship with China will deteriorate," he said at the Huazong Chinese New Year open house at Wisma Huazong in Seri Kembangan near the Malaysian capital on Saturday. Also present were Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Huazong president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, China Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian, as well as 1,000 members of the Chinese community and business leaders. Huazong is the umbrella body for some 118 Chinese guilds and associations nationwide. The Prime Minister also assured that under his leadership, Malaysia-China bilateral relations would continue to be further strengthened. He said the BN government had, from early on through his father, the late Tun Abdul Razak, had recognised the importance of establishing special links with China, and by forging diplomatic ties with China in 1974, the decision had brought mutual benefits not just for the Chinese community here, but Malaysia as a whole. He said the relationship continued to flourish and that even China President Xi Jinping had remarked that Malaysia-China relations was today at it's all time high. --BERNAMA