Claims Multibillion-ringgit Investments Failed Are Baseless
PUTRAJAYA, July 21 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed claims that multibillion-ringgit investments have not produced any results.
He emphasised that investments in the manufacturing sector continue to have a positive impact on the national economy, with the benefits being directly felt by the people through increased job opportunities, higher wages, and greater value added to industries.
Anwar said that 3,494 manufacturing investment projects had been approved by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) from 2021 to June 2025, of which 3,095 projects, or 86.4 per cent, had been realised and are now operational.
He noted that the overall annual implementation rate of these approved projects stood at 90.6 per cent in 2023 and 79.2 per cent in 2024, while for the first quarter of 2025, the implementation rate was 49.8 per cent.
'They say, 'billions in investment, but where are the results? There is nothing to show'. In reality, 86 per cent of the approved projects are already operational.
'As such, I have informed the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz to continue displaying this data and to highlight the locations of these operational projects in Kulim, Johor, Sarawak, Sabah, and the Klang Valley,' Anwar said in his speech at the Prime Minister's Department (PMO) monthly assembly here today.
He said the majority of these realised projects are in the manufacturing sector, with a focus on digital and green industries.
Anwar highlighted that the implementation of these projects had created 50,000 new job opportunities in the manufacturing sector in the first quarter of 2025.
During the same period, the median wage in the manufacturing sector increased by 5.4 per cent to RM2,745, compared to RM2,600 last year, in line with the implementation of the new minimum wage of RM1,700.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysian Reserve
3 hours ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Seoul welcomes ceasefire between Thailand, Cambodia
SEOUL — South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday welcomed a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing hope that the border conflict would be peacefully resolved, Yonhap News Agency reported. Since last Thursday, the deadly border clashes between the two countries have killed at least 35 soldiers, injured over 140 people, and displaced some 260,000. Supported by Malaysia and the United States, the two countries reached a truce agreement earlier in the day. 'The South Korean government highly values the diplomatic efforts by related countries, such as the United States and Malaysia, to reach a truce agreement,' the ministry said. 'We will continue efforts for stability and peace in the region.' — BERNAMA-YONHAP
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Malaysia's Real GDP Growth Forecast Raised To 4.5 Pct In 2025, 4.0 Pct In 2026 -- IMF
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast for Malaysia's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 4.5 per cent in 2025 and 4.0 per cent in 2026. In its July 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO) update released today, titled 'Global Economy: Tenuous Resilience amid Persistent Uncertainty', the IMF said the forecast for 2025 is 0.4 percentage point higher than in the reference forecast of the April 2025 WEO and 0.2 percentage point higher for 2026. Meanwhile, the IMF said that in the emerging market and developing economies, growth is expected to be 4.1 per cent in 2025 and 4.0 per cent in 2026. 'Relative to the forecast in April, growth in 2025 for China is revised upward by 0.8 percentage point to 4.8 per cent. This revision reflects stronger-than-expected activity in the first half of 2025 and the significant reduction in US-China tariffs,' it said. Additionally, it said China's growth in 2026 is also revised upward by 0.2 percentage point to 4.2 per cent, again reflecting the lower effective tariff rates. 'In India, growth is projected to be 6.4 per cent in 2025 and 2026, with both numbers revised slightly upward, reflecting a more benign external environment than assumed in the April reference forecast,' it said. The IMF highlighted that despite global uncertainties, countries should reduce policy-induced uncertainty by promoting clear and transparent trade frameworks. 'Pragmatic cooperation is paramount in instances in which some rules of the international trading system, in their current form, may not be functioning as intended. 'This entails the pursuit of multilateral initiatives on the global commons and modernising trade rules where feasible, while seeking plurilateral or regional solutions on other matters,' it said.
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Federal debt at RM1.3tril as of end-June
Deputy finance minister Lim Hui Ying said the government remains committed to achieving a fiscal deficit target of below 3% of the GDP, and keeping the debt-to-GDP ratio under 60% in the medium-term. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia's federal debt rose to RM1.3 trillion at the end of June, largely driven by continued fiscal deficits to fund public development spending, says deputy finance minister Lim Hui Ying. Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Lim said the increase from RM1.25 trillion at the end of last year was to support strategic development expenditure, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social protection programmes. She said the fiscal deficit reduced from 5.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022 to 4.1% last year, and is projected to fall further to 3.8% in 2025. Debt growth is also slowing, from 10.2% in 2022 to 6.4% in 2024, with a further drop to around 6% projected for 2025. 'This is in line with the government's commitment to achieving a fiscal deficit target of below 3% of GDP, and keeping the debt-to-GDP ratio under 60% in the medium-term, as provided under the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act,' Lim said in response to a question from Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas) during an oral question-and-answer session. Lim also outlined several control measures to curb debt growth, including broadening revenue base, rationalising subsidies, and enforcing strict guidelines for government guarantees and public-private partnerships. She said future borrowings would also be limited to high-impact development projects, while government guarantees would be capped at 25% of the GDP under the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act. To strengthen governance, enhance accountability, and improve institutional efficiency, the government is in the process of drafting the Government Procurement Bill and another bill to regulate state-owned enterprises, she added. BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, previously reported that Malaysia would likely miss its fiscal deficit target this year, as spending was seen exceeding projections and revenue might fall. Separately, Lim said household debt in Malaysia stood at RM1.65 trillion as at the end of March 2025, or 84.3% of the GDP. She said this should be viewed in the context of household financial assets remaining significantly higher than the total debt, indicating that the public's overall financial position remained strong. 'On aggregate, household financial assets continue to exceed debt by 2.1 times, providing a solid buffer for households,' she said in response to Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang), who inquired about the debt-to-GDP ratio. She added that the government and Bank Negara Malaysia remained committed to assisting credit users who faced financial difficulties.
