Opposition parties fear Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's state visit to China may cost them at the polls, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak.

"The opposition is worried that the China visit may sway some opposition voters and fence-sitters.

"So this Tuesday they are planning for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to make a 'guest appearance' in Parliament to distract Malaysians and divert attention away from the China visit," said Salleh in a post on his blog today.

He was referring to a meeting organised by DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang on Tuesday to discuss about the erosion of parliamentary privileges.

Three former cabinet ministers - Muhyiddin Yassin, Mohd Shafie Apdal and Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah - are slated to join the meeting. Mahathir may also attend the meeting, said Lim.

Salleh said that the opposition was "jealous and worried" about the "roaring success" of Najib's visit.

"While some have accused Najib of 'selling' Malaysia to China, the opposition does not dare to openly and aggressively criticise Najib for fear of a backlash from the Chinese community," he said.

Salleh explained that the state visit had helped secure Chinese investments in Malaysia which will create jobs and opportunities for all Malaysians.

Furthermore, Najib also secured the participation of Chinese tech guru Jack Ma as an advisor to Malaysia's Digital Free Zone.

"Some have said that Najib’s China visit was a brilliant move, reminiscent of what his father, Abdul Razak Hussein, did in 1974," said Salleh.

Abdul Razak, who was second prime minister, established diplomatic relations with China through a much celebrated visit to Beijing in 1974.

Last week, Najib made his seventh visit to China as prime minister, signing trade deals valued at RM144 billion.

Among others ventures, China will build and finance railway tracks from Klang to Tumpat, via Kuantan, and also sell several naval ships to Malaysia.