Have Malaysians been deceived over the RM 170 billion Chinese investment?
Who arranged this old trick of deception?
MURRAY HUNTER
The controversy of the RM170 billion investment issue still continues with an opposition MP Johari Ghani (Titiwangsa BN) asking about the validity of the claim, in parliament.
On April 1, the prime minister Anwar Ibrahim witnessed the signing of 19 MOUs, which were claimed to bring RM 170 billion investment to Malaysia. Johari during question asked if the ministry of investment, trade, and industry (MITI), and the Malaysian Industry Development Authority (MIDA) had undertaken what sort of screening process of the MOUs, before they were signed in front of the prime minister.
Johari claimed ‘several companies do not appear to have any track record worthy of collaboration with an economic giant like China.’
In reply, the deputy minister for investment, trade, and industry Liew Chin Tong (Iskander Puteri PH) said the all companies had gone through stringent screening processes, with MIDA conducting the necessary back ground checks.
On a copy of the press release provided before the MOU signings, providing details of the agreements and companies involved, there are many details missing under the ‘Brief Description of MOUs’ column. This hints that these MOUs were hastily arranged so as to appear as a major coup for the prime minister. It looks by the lack of what details are given, that little or no due diligence actually took place.
If these MOUs were under the responsibility of MIDA, then the chairman Dr Sulaiman Mahbob, appointed back on Sept 2, 2022 must account for this issue, and explain what due diligence actually took place, and why no details were provided to the press, if all the information of each MOU had been previously vetted.
The minister for Sabah and Sarawak affairs (PMO) Armizan Mohd Ali said the trips (overseas) resulted in an estimated RM 184.73 billion in potential investments.
The minister for MITI, Tengku Zafrul Aziz confirms his deputy minister, and the minister in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs in a Youtube video he released, saying these MOUs are fully vetted. The press release leaves this in question.
Who is telling the truth here?
