Impression that Malaysia is wasting funds is wrong: Najib

WASHINGTON DC: The impression that Malaysia wasted funds, especially from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Khazanah Nasional Bhd, abroad is wrong, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib said certain sectors tried to 'spin' the facts that Malaysia contributed funds to the US without getting any return.
"I want to explain because the people that are spinning them said we wanted to contribute and did not get anything in return ... (that's) not right.
"Because (for example) we are buying Boeing aircraft, we want to make Malaysia Airlines a competitive airline. When someone else have the Dreamliner aircraft, we have to," he said.
Najib spoke to Malaysian media before ending a three-day working visit here today, with the main focus being the Prime Minister's meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
According to the Prime Minister, such a move was to implement a transformation of the national carrier.
Najib said when the EPF invested in America, it would reap a huge return and give dividends to workers in Malaysia.
"So it's not one-way street. They are spinning it as if I came here to buy US influence. That's another very negative spinning that's not true at all," he said.
Najib said if Malaysia invested in high-technology companies, the goal was to make them become Malaysia's properties.
That way, he said, Malaysia would earn more in the future.
"Malaysia is now a capital exporter and the situation is the same when the US is investing in Malaysia. The fact that we're now becoming an exporter of capital is indicative that Malaysia is a successful nation," he said.
Towards the end of the visit, several media including those in the US, tried to badly publicise Najib by linking him with the investigation into 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
On the contrary, according to Najib, his visit went smoothly, especially the warm welcome by President Trump and his senior advisers.
"With a good reception from Trump, everything (allegations) were not true and absolutely have no basis for acceptance by Malaysians," he said.
Najib described the meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House as a manifestation of Malaysia to be recognised as a global player.
Najib said Trump valued Malaysia's views involving global issues like North Korea, development in West Asia and tension in the South China Sea.
Najib said he was stress-free during the meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, although there was all sorts of speculations and accusations over the visit.
The Prime Minister left to London for a brief meeting with Britain Prime Minister Theresa May at No. 10, Downing Street today.