Malaysia’s stronger ties with China, forged over the past few weeks, will be key as the nation prepares to deal with a United States under President Donald Trump, a man who has disparaged both China and Muslims, analysts say.
Muslims, who make up about 60 per cent of Malaysia’s population, are especially worried as the reality TV star has been criticised for tapping into undercurrents of Islamophobia in his campaign for the White House.
Closer relations between this moderate Muslim Southeast Asian nation and its East Asian superpower neighbour will be an important buffer to any uncertainty coming from a Trump administration, analysts said.
Malaysia recently signed RM143 billion (HK$264 billion) worth of deals in infrastructure, e-business development and defence equipment with China, as Prime Minister Najib Razak seeks more foreign investment to shore up flagging revenue from oil and gas.