PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described his recent official visit to China as an extraordinary success and attributed it to cross-ministerial cooperation and team spirit among civil servants.
He said the efforts put in by civil servants in preparing the event, enabled about 50 giant Chinese companies, worth tens of billions of dollars, to gather in conjunction with the visit.
“This is because of efforts made not only by the Foreign Ministry, but also all relevant ministries,” he said when speaking at the Prime Minister’s Monthly Assembly with Staff of the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) here today.
In conjunction with Anwar’s official visit to China, Malaysia received the highest investment commitment in history, amounting to RM170 billion from Chinese investors, following the signing of 19 memoranda of understanding (MoU) between Malaysian and Chinese companies.
Meanwhile, Anwar said clean and efficient methods must be implemented in every business to attract and increase the confidence of investors in the country.
He did not deny that there are still parties seeking commission when dealing with the government.
“The old culture (if) takes a long time to eliminate. So I ask for your cooperation, because when the image is good, it is very easy,” he said.
Anwar said by maintaining good governance, administration and image, the country’s future will be brighter.
On the South China Sea dispute, Anwar said Malaysia is prepared to negotiate with China to resolve the issue.
He said the issue was raised at the four-eyed meeting he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his official visit to China being that the national oil and gas company, Petronas, has the largest platform for oil exploration operating in the area
“China is also staking claim over the area. I said as a small country that needs oil and gas resources, we have to continue, but if the condition is that there must be negotiations, then we are ready to negotiate,” he said.
Anwar said he also touched on the issue of Myanmar and the Rohingya refugees, despite knowing that China practices a policy of non-interference.
“China is close to Myanmar, but its policy is not to interfere. I said we do not intend to interfere in their affairs, but there are almost 200,000 Rohingya refugees here. So, whether we like it or not, what is happening in Myanmar in denying the rights of Myanmar’s own people, including the Rohingya, affects us,” he said. – BERNAMA
