Miti: Malaysia set for RM104b in 2025 investments, trade target unchanged despite global headwinds
Its Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said this projection takes into account gross domestic product (GDP) forecast, projects currently under evaluation, and potential projects.
'Based on Mida's investment statistics, the first quarter of 2025 approved investments were RM89.8 billion, a 3.7 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
'Therefore, considering the increasing trend of investment applications to Mida, the investment outlook is expected to maintain positive for the whole of 2025,' he said in a written reply on the Parliament's website yesterday in response to Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) who asked for the government's 2025 investment projection as well as the measures to ensure that export and investment values are not severely affected by rising US tariffs and global geopolitical uncertainty.
Tengku Zafrul said the projection remains unchanged for now as the tariff impact is mainly felt by companies that rely heavily on the US market.
He added that Miti currently has no plans to revise its 2025 trade growth targets despite the US imposing a 19 per cent tariff.
Miti will continue to monitor current developments, especially exports to the US market, and formulate appropriate mitigation strategies, he said.
'Trade performance is expected to experience a slight decline in the second half of 2025 due to reduced demand from the US following the tariff enforcement.
'A more significant impact is expected to be felt in the first quarter of 2026, when trade activity resumes post-tariff implementation,' he said.
Miti had previously projected a 5 per cent rise in Malaysia's total trade value to RM3.01 trillion against RM2.87 trillion in 2024.
Meanwhile, he said US President Donald Trump's latest announcement on the 19 per cent tariff rate has opened a strategic opportunity for Malaysia to remain competitive alongside other trading partners, especially among Asean member states with similar tariff rates.
'It should be emphasised that Malaysia successfully secured a lower tariff rate without having to compromise on core policies or national sovereignty,' he said.
However, he acknowledged that the tariff rate will still have an impact on export and investment performance, and in turn, affect Malaysia's economy.
In the long term, he said the imposition of high reciprocal tariffs will cause a global economic slowdown, including in Malaysia, due to rising prices and declining demand, which will indirectly affect Malaysia's economic growth rate and the global economy in general. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Beyond disputes: Turning Ambalat and Pedra Branca into platforms for maritime cooperation
THE maritime disputes over Ambalat and Batu Puteh are complex. Ambalat, located in the resource-rich Sulawesi Sea, is claimed by Malaysia and Indonesia since the early 2000s. The area is believed to contain significant hydrocarbon reserves, and both countries have issued oil exploration licences that have led to diplomatic protests and naval stand-offs. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently emphasised the role of Sabah — which is the Malaysian state closest to the area — in ensuring that any joint development has equitable outcomes for border communities. Meanwhile, the dispute over Batu Puteh was partially resolved in 2008 when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded sovereignty over it to Singapore. In the same judgment, the ICJ ruled that Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia, while sovereignty over South Ledge would rest with the state in whose territorial waters it is located. As the ICJ did not delimit maritime boundaries, South Ledge's status is unresolved. In recent years, bilateral efforts have intensified to resolve outstanding maritime issues. At the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat in January, both governments agreed to begin technical work to delimit maritime boundaries in the Johor Strait, using the 1927 Territorial Waters Agreement as a legal basis. Singapore's continued engagement through the Joint Technical Committee reflects its commitment to resolve maritime issues through dialogue and legal frameworks. These disputes reflect deeper questions of sovereignty, historical memory and control over vital sea lanes. But they also present an opportunity to transform contested maritime zones into shared spaces of cooperation. Malaysia and Indonesia should consider establishing a joint development authority (JDA) to manage resources and reduce tensions over Ambalat. Similarly, Malaysia and Singapore could explore cooperative arrangements around Middle Rocks and South Ledge, focusing on maritime safety, environmental stewardship and scientific research. Such frameworks — already proven in the Malaysia-Thailand JDA in the Gulf of Thailand — would allow all parties to benefit economically while preserving their legal positions. Importantly, joint development does not require any party to relinquish its claims. Under Article 83 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , states are encouraged to reach provisional arrangements pending final delimitation. Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have played pivotal roles in Asean's evolution and have consistently advocated for peaceful dispute resolution and regional stability. Their cooperation on Ambalat and Batu Puteh could serve as a model for other maritime disputes in Southeast Asia, including in the South China Sea. A coordinated initiative involving Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore — each addressing their respective maritime disputes — could serve as a model for broader governance reforms within Asean, strengthening its commitment to pragmatic diplomacy and peaceful resolution. Public discourse in all three countries must focus on collaboration. Parliamentarians, diplomats and civil society leaders should advocate for open dialogue, confidence-building measures and creative legal solutions. The media should frame these disputes as opportunities for partnership. Ambalat and Batu Puteh should be reimagined as foundations for a shared maritime future — where sovereignty concerns are balanced with economic pragmatism and regional solidarity. The establishment of JDAs would not only unlock resource potential but also signal that Southeast Asia is capable of resolving disputes through diplomacy and innovation. During the recent Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Consultation, President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to resolving the Ambalat dispute through peaceful means. Both leaders agreed to explore joint development initiatives as they recognise that legal processes may take years. This bilateral momentum reflects a pragmatic approach to diplomacy. On the Batu Puteh front, Singapore has likewise shown its willingness to cooperate. These parallel bilateral engagements — Malaysia with Indonesia over Ambalat, and Malaysia with Singapore over Batu Puteh — signal a commitment to regional stability, peaceful dispute resolution and collaborative maritime governance.
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Unity Minister urges firm action over upside-down Jalur Gemilang incident
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 — National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang has urged the police to take firm action over the incident of flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down, stressing that it should serve as a lesson to all parties. In a post on X today, he said that the Jalur Gemilang is a symbol of country's sovereignty, unity, and dignity that belongs to all Malaysians regardless of race, religion, or background. 'Flying the flag correctly is every citizen's responsibility as a sign of respect and love for the country. I would like to remind everyone that displaying or flying the national flag improperly is an offence under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 (Act 414),' he said. — Bernama
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
PM Anwar visits comedian Amir Raja Lawak, offers support for ailing father
KOTA BHARU, Aug 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today spent about 30 minutes visiting popular comedian Mohammad Amirullah Azmi, better known as Amir Raja Lawak, at the latter's shop near the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, here. Anwar was accompanied by Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud. During the meeting with Amir, 39, Anwar expressed concern for the comedian's father, who is undergoing treatment for colon cancer at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), in Kubang Kerian. As a gesture of support, Anwar and Mohd Nassuruddin presented a cash donation to Amir. The visit followed Amir's Facebook post yesterday, in which he expressed his wish to meet the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Amir expressed his gratitude and said he was deeply moved to meet Anwar. 'I only posted on Facebook because I knew the Prime Minister would be attending the closing ceremony of the PMR (MADANI Rakyat Programme) near my shop. 'I asked who was arranging for his (Anwar's) presence, and I didn't think the Prime Minister himself knew about my problem. Amir said that he was informed by the Prime Minister's political secretary Datuk Farhan Fauzi yesterday, that Anwar would be stopping by his shop. 'I am very grateful and surprised. I thought that only the Prime Minister would be present, but many other senior leaders were there as well,' he said. — Bernama
