The Malaysian Insight

MALAYSIA’S relationship with Beijing was strained in the early days of Pakatan Harapan’s administration, said Tan Kok Wai, the country’s special envoy to China, a year since taking up the post.

He said Putrajaya’s suspension or review of China-backed mega projects, such as East Coast Rail Link and Bandar Malaysia, had caused tensions in bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticism of Chinese-funded projects had not gone down well with Beijing, but fortunately, the latter decided to take a wait-and-see approach, Tan told The Malaysian Insight.

In the past, he said, Dr Mahathir had been critical of such projects, like Forest City in Johor and the Malaysia-China Industrial Park, due to misunderstanding.

After a visit to the industrial park in the Pahang capital, Dr Mahathir said plots of land had been sold to the Chinese by the previous Barisan Nasional government. Last August, he said he wanted to tear down what locals called “Kuantan’s Great Wall of China”, which stands along part of the park’s perimeter.

These remarks had drawn the ire of Chinese citizens, said Tan.

“They spread on social media. The Chinese were not happy, and they were complaining about us. However, the Chinese government has been understanding towards the Malaysian government.

“In the beginning, we had to provide a lot of explanation. We had to discuss various factors with the Chinese side. It was not easy to convince them. One of the things we said was, Malaysia having a special envoy to China shows that we value China.”

He said the prime minister’s presence at the Belt and Road Summit in Beijing in April helped confirm Malaysia’s support for China’s major infrastructure development drive across the globe.

“China knows that Malaysia is the first Asean country to establish diplomatic relations with it. Southeast Asia is strategically located, be it for infrastructure, terminals, airports, roads, the economy. Laws and tax structures here are also conducive.”

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, he said.

Malaysia, under second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, established ties with the Asian giant in 1974.

Since then, said Tan, both countries have had a healthy relationship.

He said many Chinese nationals working in Malaysia feel at home because of the easy availability of the food they are familiar with, as well as the lack of a language barrier.

He added that China’s leaders have had a lot to discuss with Dr Mahathir.

Tan recalled Dr Mahathir’s meeting with three top Chinese leaders – President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and National People’s Congress Standing Committee chairman Li Zhanshu – during his first official visit to China last August, which went on for longer than the allocated time.

“Despite an official reminding them that time was up, the talks went on.”

It was a good signal to Beijing of Malaysia’s intentions when the prime minister made another visit in April and attended the Belt and Road Summit, he said.

Tan said he believes any negative perception Dr Mahathir may have had about China and its Belt and Road Initiative has changed.

“Yes, (Dr Mahathir’s perception) has changed. He did not understand the Belt and Road (Initiative) before. With the visit to China this year, he has become familiar with the project.”

The fact that Dr Mahathir was given the podium to represent Asean at the summit showed how China values and respects Malaysia, he said. – August 4, 2019.