Press Digest - Chinese Embassy rebuts Muhyiddin's allegations

PETALING JAYA: The Chinese Embassy said China will not allow anyone to jeopardise the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between China and Malaysia, the Chinese press reported today.
The remark that Chinese investors will "break the rice bowls of the locals" is a big lie, said the embassy in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, in an apparent rebuttal to allegations made by former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in an interview with the Chinese press published a day earlier.
The cooperation forged between Malaysia and China is a good example of an equal, mutually beneficial and win-win relationship, it said, adding that "both sides have derived benefits from it".
"This (strong bilateral relation) is the result of the joint efforts of the two countries' governments and their people. It should not be allowed to be undermined by anyone," it said.
Muhyiddin, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, had told the Chinese press that both the Malays and Malaysian Chinese do not welcome investors from China for fear of losing their rice bowls to these foreigners.
His remarks drew flak from various quarters, including the Chinese Embassy.
However, the embassy's statement did not name names.
It emphasised that the cooperation between China and Malaysia will bring both short and long-term benefits to both nations, and does not and will not hurt the interest of the people of Malaysia.
The embassy said it fails to understand how this win-win cooperation could attract disputes so often.
It also pointed out that some people repeatedly emphasised the good Sino-Malaysian ties and encouraged China's investment in Malaysia when they are in power, but instigated hatred against China after losing power.
"Where is their integrity … how can they win the respect of the international community and the trust of the Malaysian Chinese?" it said.