The PPBM Supreme Council member says by accusing Dr Mahathir Mohamad of 'selling' Malaysia to Japan, Umno has indirectly admitted to doing the same with China.
PETALING JAYA: PPBM Supreme Council member Tariq Ismail today hit out at Umno’s claim that Dr Mahathir Mohamad was in Japan as a “salesman” to lure Japanese investment to Malaysia.
In a statement by its strategic communications unit last night, Umno had said that Mahathir was trying to “sell” Malaysia to Japan. It also asked how this was different from what the previous government had done by courting China.
Tariq said by questioning Mahathir’s alleged investment talks with Japan in this manner, Umno had “finally admitted that it was ‘selling’ Malaysia to China in the guise of investments”.
He also rubbished the notion that such investments could be compared.
“Japan has been instrumental in the industrialisation of Malaysia, not just by being the inspiration for the Look East policy, but also in its willingness to invest and give back to Malaysia in terms of benefits to the economy and local population.
“Nowhere in over 35 years has Japan taken advantage of the FDIs to trick us into a debt-trap in the guise of unnecessary projects purportedly for development. In fact, Japan’s terms for FDIs specifically do not impinge on our sovereignty as a nation,” he said in a statement.
Tariq said Umno’s claims showed its “total ignorance” of the standard terms involved in development projects and funding.
“You don’t give a development project lock, stock and barrel to foreign parties without there being a guarantee for a minimum benefit to the locals. It’s what makes it a development project,” he said.
He also took Umno to task for its criticism of the new government for not believing the economic statistics provided by the World Bank and internal agencies.
“Recognition by the World Bank is not a guarantee of reporting credibility or integrity,” he said.
As for Umno’s questions over why Pakatan Harapan had not yet appointed a foreign minister, he said Malaysia’s foreign policy did not change simply because a new leader had come onboard.
“Any revision to Malaysia’s foreign policy must be strategically justified, and only after a thorough assessment of Malaysia’s current standing.
“In case Umno forgets, under its stewardship, Malaysia’s last address at the UNGA (United Nations general assembly) was a complete and utter flop. Such is the fall from grace that even Asean members are not looking to Malaysia for leadership, let alone the rest of the world that used to hold us in high esteem.
“This has to be addressed comprehensively, I agree, but what’s another few weeks compared to the decade of damage done by the previous regime? Here again, Umno proves its ignorance of diplomacy and international relations strategy setting.” -FMT
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