Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, May 10, 2018 (Photo: Reuters/Lai Seng Sin)

I’ve been quoted in this excellent article on Malaysia-China relations by Nile Bowie in the Asia Times, with whom I was very happy to share my some of my thoughts:

“Since the election, Mahathir and other government figures have been at pains to explain that the ‘anti-China’ election campaign was in fact directed at Najib, and not China.”

“China and Malaysia have invested in some heavy PR in recent months, promoting the strength and dynamism of their bilateral ties and mobilizing high-profile businessmen like Jack Ma to project the message that the two nations are closer than ever, and can reset their relationship to deliver wide bilateral benefits.”

“Mahathir has been speaking not only to China’s leaders but to his domestic constituency in Malaysia… (the Malaysian premier’s aim) is to demonstrate that he can return Malaysia to a policy of non-alignment and deliver a new era of prosperity, even in a climate shaped by heightened great power competition.”