KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has welcomed and supported the government’s appointment of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as Malaysia special envoy to the People’s Republic of China.
Its president Tan Sri T.C Goh was convinced that being a seasoned elected representative and a member of the government, Tiong would be able to play a significant role in forging a closer cooperation between Malaysia and China in tackling the devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as cooperation in various sectors, post Covid-19 crisis.
“We believe Tiong’s appointment would expedite and enhance bilateral trade between Malaysia and China, to allow the two countries to catch up on the trade which was inevitably affected due to the fight against Covid-19,” he said in a statement issued today.
Huazong was also of the opinion that the latest portfolio offered to Tiong is a more significant and appropriate one, as compared to the post of deputy National Unity minister in the Prime Minister’s Department offered to him previously, which he declined to accept.
Goh went on to note that, both Malaysia and China are members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the bilateral trade volume has been maintained at around USD 100 billion, in the recent years. However, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries has noticeably slowed down.
“But, we earnestly believe that, once the pandemic is fully under-controlled, our bilateral trade and cooperation in various sectors would not only see a fast recovery, but to increase further, and we are confident that Tiong would be able to help accelerate it,” he said.
Noting that Tiong had performed well during his tenure as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to East Asia from 2014 to 2018, Goh believed the former would be able to make good use of his vast experience and outstanding leadership to continue to make a difference in his latest appointment.
“We also believe and hope that Tiong who is from East Malaysia (Sarawak) would be able to help both Sabah and Sarawak to bring in more tourists and investors from China,” added Goh who is also the president of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS).
He also pledged that Huazong and all its member associations in the country would give Tiong their full support and cooperation in carrying out his tasks.-pr/BNN
