PM, where’s the part on US helping Malaysia?
Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Najib
Ano
nymous 2436471476414726: So now it is clear. The invitation from US President Donald Trump is on the condition that Malaysia commits to purchase of Boeing planes and invests in the US stock market.
Najib also said the additional billions of investment from our Employees Provident Fund (EFP) is to support the infrastructure redevelopment in the US. What an irony.
We do not have the fund to finance our own infrastructure development to the extent we are forced to borrow from China.
As for fighting Islamic State, we should first secure our borders from being breached by a band of ragtag and poorly equipped foreigners as in the case of the last Sulu incursion. Even foreign fishermen have no problem encroaching into our seas and harvesting our fishes like nobody’s business.
Trump must be looking at Najib with disdain as in one of the photographs where he had his arms folded.
It is indeed strange that Najib make the trip to the White House just to tell Trump that we are buying their planes without Trump promising us anything in return, not for Malaysians at least.
Ferdtan: Najib, you offered our depleted money to help US by buying their products and invest in their stock market. What for?
This is a bilateral relationship between two nations whereby both sides should mutually benefit from each other. So, what is Trump is offering Malaysia?
When you buy something, you must expect something in return. Is the “purchase product” anything to do with getting the US Department of Justice (DOJ) off the back of 1MDB’s theft and money laundering?
No nation just gives and gives and expects nothing in return. To compound the suspicion, Najib also stayed in the expensive Trump International Hotel owned by US president, apparently using our taxpayers’ money.
FlabberPro: Najib travelled all the way to the US with his “distinguished and honourable delegation” just for this? And on whose money?
He also mentioned he wanted to help strengthen the US economy. What about tackling the hardships that Malaysians are facing right now?
Anonymous_3f94: The words spoken by Trump in response to Najib were: 1. Great. 2. Great. 3. Right. 4. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
So that’s all we got for spending billions of dollars in the US.
Betty Hutton: I listened in growing indignation that the PM, desperate and clutching at straws to save himself, has dared to put his podgy fingers into the till and take our EPF contributions to “strengthen” the US economy. What a load of codswallop!
Apa Ini: This is what Trump calls “the art of the deal” – get all you can and give back as little as possible. In this case, nothing but a photo opportunity.
Not even a coupon to play free on one of his golf courses.
A lopsided meeting between Trump and Najib
Anonymous 2436471476414726: Well said, Malaysiakini columnist Stephen Ng. Najib goes out all the way to convey to Trump that Malaysia will make America great again.
Never mind that it is our economy that needs foreign direct investment. Never mind that many of our businesses are struggling. Never mind that many of our employees are made redundant due to companies scaling down operation. Never mind that more and more fresh graduates are unable to find employment.
What did Trump commit to assist Malaysia? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
He must be laughing on the inside. He has managed to take full advantage of a desperate kleptocrat, who is hoping for the US president to assist him to get the DOJ/FBI off his back.
Anonymous 24621504705224: My, I did not know the Americans are so poor that our PM has to throw them some spare change for them to survive. Do note that the spare change is in the tune of US$3 to US$4 billion.
Just imagine, a powerful third-world country is propping up the economy of a poor first world country.
How dare Potus still sit across the table with his arms folded when talking to our PM? What kind of body language is that after our PM has flown 26 hours to meet him?
Next time, we should force Potus come to Malaysia if he wants alms again. We will not roll out the red carpet. We will not hold any press conference so that Potus cannot go back and brag about meeting the PM.
We will even classify the visit as a private visit. And we will not book a hotel for the Potus. He will have to book Hotel Seri Malaysia himself.
Quigonbond: Trump is probably folding his arms because he is not convinced of what the other man is attempting to sell to him, as one is wont to behave as such when one is cynical.
If the other man is selling him good stuff, he shouldn’t behave like this. Was the other man trying to convince him to drop or delay the 1MDB investigations?
If I were Trump, I would make no such commitment, except to say to that man that he needs to improve his standing in the US before that can be reconsidered.
Why? He wants that man to cough up his Chinese and Arabic monies to feed US in exchange for levity over his personal troubles.
Who gets screwed? Malaysians, of course.
Daniel: In Trump’s previous reality show “The Apprentice,” when he folded his arms like that while listening to a participant pitching a product, he usually ended up saying, “You’re fired!”
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