Malaysia leads Southeast Asia in tourism, investment growth under MADANI administration — NGA
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has emerged as Southeast Asia's leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism under the leadership of the MADANI government, said UN-Habitat General Assembly president Nga Kor Ming.
Nga, who is Housing and Local Government Minister, said this achievement reflects the MADANI government's commitment to good governance, investor-friendly policies and strong international diplomacy.
'From easing visa regulations to deepening diplomatic ties, the MADANI government is paving the way for Malaysia's global recognition,' he said in a statement.
Malaysia was recently ranked third globally in the 2025 Baseline Profitability Index (BPI) — trailing only India and Rwanda — and topped the Southeast Asian region ahead of Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The BPI, developed by economist Daniel Altman, evaluates 100 countries based on their potential for profit generation, value preservation and capital repatriation over a five-year horizon.
In another milestone, Malaysia has overtaken Thailand as ASEAN's most visited tourist destination in the first quarter of 2025, according to a report by Vietnam Express.
The report, which cited official data from several ASEAN countries, showed that Malaysia welcomed more than 10.1 million foreign tourists from January to March this year. Thailand recorded 9.55 million visitors, while Vietnam and Singapore received six million and 4.31 million tourists, respectively.
Nga also highlighted Malaysia's recent appointment as president of the UN-Habitat Assembly, calling it a timely recognition of the country's leadership in sustainable urban development.
'This role positions Malaysia to deepen international cooperation and expand our influence on the global stage,' he said.
'As Malaysia rises on the global stage, it is crucial that we maintain our momentum to uphold investor confidence and ensure continued political and economic stability,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Iran Urges UN to Take Decisive Action Against Israel's Aggression
TEHRAN, June 14 (Bernama-IRNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has emphasised the urgent need for the United Nations (UN) to take swift action in response to Israel's acts of aggression against Iran, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported. In a telephone conversation on Friday with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Araqchi provided details about Israel's strikes on multiple sites inside Iran, including military bases, nuclear facilities, and residential buildings. He reiterated that Israel's actions represent a serious violation of Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity as a sovereign UN member state. bootstrap slideshow The top diplomat described the strikes as an outright act of aggression, noting that the Islamic Republic preserves its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Araqchi called on the UN to act immediately, in line with its duties under the UN Charter, to condemn the Israeli strikes and take necessary measures to hold the regime accountable. For his part, Guterres expressed regret and condemned the attacks, pledging to use the UN's capacity to reduce tensions and help restore peace and stability in the region. Overnight on Friday, the Israeli regime began a series of military strikes in and near the Iranian capital, Tehran, as well as other Iranian cities. In a major escalation, the Tel Aviv regime also targeted residential buildings in and near Tehran. The Israeli military also carried out targeted strikes against Iran's top military brass. Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Baqeri, and Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, were among the senior military officials assassinated in Tehran. -- BERNAMA-IRNA
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Voicing concerns should not be viewed as spreading lies, says MCA
BY infringing upon the privacy of Malaysians, the actions of the Madani government warrants condemnation in the highest terms. Not only has it violated our personal liberties but it has also deployed the police to investigate and intimidate those who dare to speak out – a clear attempt to create a climate of fear and silence public discourse. This so-called unity government that champions the Madani concept has been in power for less than three years. Yet in this brief period, it has utterly betrayed the "reformasi" ideals it once brandished for over two decades. What was once a rallying cry for justice has now descended into a cruel joke. Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/month RM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Private educational institutions to get one-year training levy waiver from 2026
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time, the government has announced a one-year exemption from training levy payments for all private educational institutions, effective Jan 1, 2026. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the exemption covers all institutions, including preschools, primary and secondary schools, vocational education centres, institutions of higher learning, and general training institutes. 'After receiving numerous views from (private) education and training institutions, the MADANI government has sought the best solution to train our young people. This (exemption) is intended to allow them to focus on improving quality,' he said. He said this when officiating at the highlight of the National Training Weeks (NTW) 2025 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium grounds here today. Also present was Human Resources Minister Steven Sim. At the same time, the Prime Minister directed the secretaries-general of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) to monitor and ensure that these training institutions offer quality training following the granting of the levy waiver. 'Also monitor private companies with high profits to ensure they give something back to their workers,' he added. Under the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act 2001 (Act 612), employers are required to pay a levy to the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), for training and skills development. Anwar also stressed the need to train the younger generation in new fields using current methods, in line with the MADANI Economic Framework, and not remain stuck in outdated training approaches. He said these include areas such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and chip manufacturing. 'Malaysia's semiconductor industry is not small — the country is regarded as a hub and base for the ASEAN region. Nearly all of the world's largest semiconductor and AI companies are based in Malaysia,' he said.
