NEW YORK: It was vintage Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on full display here as he spoke candidly on a host of issues.
At the Council of Foreign Relations forum here yesterday, the prime minister spoke his mind on a host of issues, including China and his thoughts on US president Donald Trump.
On Malaysia’s decision to cancel Chinese contracts, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia had to stop agreements detrimental to the economy.
“(It is) not because of China. It’s because of the previous government borrowing too much for contracts which were not beneficial to Malaysia. We had to put a stop to that.
“And these contractors lost out, but we have explained to them this is not because of them but because the previous prime minister entering into contacts detrimental to the country’s economy.”
Dr Mahathir said as far as ties with China are concerned, Malaysia was “still friendly”.
To a question on if there is resistance forming against China in Asia, Dr Mahathir said this was against investments that benefitted China most.
“In the case of Malaysia, these contracts involved borrowing from China and the condition is that it must be given to a Chinese company and the money never entered Malaysia at all.
“Payment is made in China to a Chinese contractor at certain times... fixed payments without regard for progress of work.”
Dr Mahathir said Malaysia had to renegotiate the one-sided projects and eventually scale down, postpone or cancel them if they were not viable.
On the South China Sea, Dr Mahathir said China does not have complete control to the point that is has the right to forbid ships and warships from entering.
“We have always spoken to China and emphasised that it is alright to have their One Belt One Road policy so long as they allow ships to pass through the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea.”
Dr Mahathir said Malaysia was against warships in the area as this would create tension.
On what he would advise Trump to do differently regarding policies in Asia, Dr Mahathir was blunt.
“Be consistent. Be consistent. If you want to fight us say you want to fight us. If you don’t want to fight us and you want to be friends say so and be friends.”
On Trump’s policies on Asia, Dr Mahathir said he felt the US president does not know much about the continent.
“I get the impression that he doesn’t know much about Asia and therefore he makes decisions that are not based on realities or the facts on the ground.”
Dr Mahathir said he was convinced that Americans are unhappy with Trump.
“I think the US president is a very powerful man. Whatever he does affects the whole world.
“So it’s a question of (a) personality, not so much a nation. I don’t think Americans are in full agreement with (the) president all the time.
“But this one, I think more Americans are unhappy with the president than at other times with other presidents.”