MALACCA: Foreign investments in the country have never and will never be at the expense of the nation's sovereignty, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Addressing a gathering of 10,000 civil servants in Ayer Keroh today, Najib chided opposition-driven criticism over projects such as the Melaka Gateway port city, which Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed would surrender the sovereignty of the area to China.
"Don't listen to all this nonsense from the opposition," Najib said, while also calling for civil servants to remain loyal and true to their promise to support the government which was elected by the people.
"Sometimes there is no logic behind the claims. He (Dr Mahathir) attacked Melaka Gateway, stating that because of that project we would lose our sovereignty. Since when has foreign investment caused us to lose sovereignty? This has never happened," said Najib.
The prime minister said with such investments, Malaysia would benefit by possessing infrastructure that would benefit the people.
"Investors build factories and ports in our country and this means, the ports will be in our hands, controlled by us. We will not lose sovereignty. We will always defend our sovereignty," said Najib.
Dr Mahathir has recently shifted focus towards the RM43 billion Melaka Gateway project, claiming it was another sign of the federal government surrendering the nation's sovereignty, particularly the freehold status of property under that project.
Also at the monthly gathering of civil servants this morning were Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, state assembly speaker Datuk Wira Othman Muhamad, Civil Service director general Datuk Seri Zainal Rahim Seman and Malacca state secretary Datuk Seri Naim Abu Bakar.
Najib called for loyalty from civil servants in order to push forward the implementation of the government's plans for development.
"The culture of creating divisions among us should be avoided. History has proven here that disunity can cause the collapse of an empire," said Najib.
"This is why I stress on the importance of delivery systems among civil servants which is to ensure that all big plans developed by the government for the country will become a reality."