Kadir Jasin defends Putrajaya’s decision to cancel several China-backed projects.
Veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin said it is mandatory for Malaysia’s leaders to look out for the interests of the people in the wake of Putrajaya’s decision to cancel several China-backed projects.
Kadir, who was recently appointed as a media and communications adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office, said it didn’t matter if Beijing was angered by this decision and would retaliate.
“We didn’t vote in the Chinese leaders but voted in ours.
“It is the duty of our elected leaders to look after our welfare and protect the country’s sovereignty,” he said in a blog post.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP) projects would be cancelled until Malaysia could afford them.
He also said the focus now was to solve Malaysia’s financial deficit and no more project deals detrimental to Malaysia’s interests would be allowed.
Putrajaya’s decision drew criticisms with an opinion piece carried in Malaysiakini claiming that the trip was a “disaster” as no major deals had been signed.
MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong said that Putrajaya’s decision will affect the country’s ties with China.
But Kadir dismissed this.
“I am confident China would not simply forgo a relationship forged 44 years ago by Tun Abdul Razak just because they care for his son,” he said referring to Malaysia’s second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein and his son, Najib Razak. – FMT