China's Economic Engagement in Malaysia and Malaysia's Response

Zaharul Abdullah

《Southeast Asian Social Science Review》 5卷1期 (2020/05) Pp. 26-52

https://doi.org/10.29945/SEASSR.202005_5(1).0002

摘要

Since the launch of China's Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, Malaysia has been active to enhance its economic relations with China under the leadership of the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak. This has led to the deepening of China's economic engagement in Malaysia particularly in terms of investments, loans and project contracting. This development evoked widespread criticisms within the country that Malaysia had undermined its sovereignty, compromised its security and aggravated its debt burdens. Before these impacts worsened, there was a change of government from Barisan Nasional to Pakatan Harapan after the 14^(th) General Election that took place on May 9, 2018. Against this backdrop, this article argues that the role of the state under Najib's administration was weak to manage the detrimental impacts of China's economic engagement in Malaysia. This article also argues that the role of the state under Mahathir's administration so far has been strong to manage these detrimental impacts and proactively transform them into economic opportunities that benefit the nation. The ability of the new government to come up with different strategies to preserve its autonomy and improve its infrastructural capacity to manage globalization is in line with the thesis propounded by the transformationalist approach in the theory of globalization.

關鍵字

globalization ； state autonomy ； investment ； loan ； project contracting