'Who benefits from Anwar's UK trip?' Najib loyalist pans 'reverse investments' by YTL, Gamuda

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's investment target for the country has been called into question after he inaugurated a multi-billion pound project in the United Kingdom, where he is currently on an official trip to attract foreign investment to Malaysia.

Prominent government critic Eric See-To said YTL Group's £6 billion (RM33 billion) project to develop a new sustainable township in Bristol with integrated schools, shops, public transport and healthcare was clearly not for the benefit of Malaysians, adding that it was a break from previous policy of ensuring that investments abroad would benefit the country.

"Obviously the British prime minister is more powerful than our PMX," Eric, writing under his pen name Lim Sian See, said in a Facebook post accompanied by a photo of Anwar meeting Keir Starmer at the latter's official residence.

"PMX is constantly travelling abroad to bring billions of foreign investment into Malaysia.

"While the British PM sits at home shaking his legs waiting for PMX to bring him tens of billions in foreign investment from Malaysia."

Eric, a loyalist of jailed leader Najib Razak, compared the latest projects in the UK to the Battersea power plant project launched in 2012 by government-linked investment companies Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

"Najib did not bring YTL to invest so that private companies can get good returns. Najib brought GLICs and public savings funds EPF and PNB to invest in the high-profile UK Battersea project for the people to benefit, for the people of the UK to realise that it is Malaysia that is 'colonising' them and that the UK is no longer colonising Malaysia.

"Najib's cronies are the people," he added.

On Wednesday, Anwar hailed YTL's township project in Bristol as a reflection of Malaysia's commitment "to nurturing partnerships that drive innovation, foster prosperity, and contribute to a better world for all".

In a statement by the UK government, Starmer said he and Anwar agreed that the UK "is a great place to do business".

Starmer also welcomed YTL's £2 billion (RM11 billion) investment in British businesses over the next five years and a further £2 billion that will go towards building homes and schools in Bristol, which he said will create 30,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, another Malaysian conglomerate, Gamuda Berhad, will also invest £1.2 billion (RM6.6 billion) in a project to refurbish the iconic Winchester House, now known as 75 London Wall, in the heart of London.