PETALING JAYA: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) should not be viewed as a “debt trap” for Malaysia, says transport minister Loke Siew Fook.
In an interview with Global Times, Loke said any government or country would have weighed the costs and benefits of a BRI project before committing to it.
“Any government or country that signs up for the BRI should know what they are signing up for. This cannot be seen or viewed as a ‘debt trap’,” he was quoted as saying.
The minister said developing countries should take advantage of the BRI as it would help them boost their economies, but they must be accountable for the decisions they make.
The BRI is a massive infrastructure initiative by China that spans the globe. However, critics have accused China of creating a debt trap for developing countries.
During his recent official visit to China, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said it was time for the BRI to regain its momentum with the Covid-19 pandemic now resolved.
However, two economists warned against getting more involved in the BRI due to the risk to the economy, given Malaysia’s high debt burden.
Following Anwar’s visit to China, Loke hoped there would be greater cooperation with China under the BRI, particularly in the area of infrastructure.
“We hope that such cooperation will become a win-win situation where there is more cooperation between Chinese and Malaysian companies in undertaking these projects.
“For example, (there should be) more contribution from Chinese companies in terms of technology transfer and the training of Malaysian engineers,” he said.
Loke added that Putrajaya was looking to attract more Chinese companies to establish regional bases in Malaysia.
Earlier today, Anwar had described his four-day trip to China as a huge success, saying several Chinese companies have agreed to make Malaysia their new regional hub. - FMT
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