Latest news with #745
BusinessToday
21-07-2025
- Business
- BusinessToday
86% And Counting, PM Slams Claims Of ‘No Results'
Credits to PMO FB Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed claims that multibillion-ringgit investments bring no tangible results, stating that the manufacturing sector continues to deliver direct benefits to Malaysians through job creation, wage increases and industrial value-add. 'They say billions in investments, where are the results? There's nothing to show. The reality is, 86% of the approved projects are already operational,' he said. He revealed that 3,494 manufacturing projects have been approved by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) from 2021 until June 2025. Of these, 3,095 projects or 86.4%, have been realised and are now operational. Speaking at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's Department, Anwar noted that the implementation rate of approved projects stood at 90.6% in 2023, 79.2% in 2024 and 49.8% in the first quarter of 2025. 'I've told Minister Tengku Zafrul to continue publishing the relevant data and highlight the locations of operating plants — in Kulim, Johor, Sarawak, Sabah and the Klang Valley,' he added. He said most of the realised projects focus on digital and green industries. In the first quarter of this year alone, these projects have created 50,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector. Median wages in the sector also rose by 5.4% to RM2,745, up from RM2,600 last year, aligning with the new minimum wage policy of RM1,700. Anwar also reported that since the establishment of the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre (IMFC) in December 2023, a total of 28,166 investor applications have been facilitated with a resolution rate of 99.9%. These applications involved matters such as approvals, permits, foreign worker quotas, utilities and tax-related issues. Related
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Anwar refutes claims of failed multibillion-ringgit investments
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has firmly rejected allegations that multibillion-ringgit investments in Malaysia have failed to deliver results. He stressed that these investments, particularly in the manufacturing sector, have significantly contributed to economic growth, job creation, and wage improvements. Anwar revealed that 3,494 manufacturing projects approved by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) between 2021 and June 2025 have seen an 86.4% implementation rate, with 3,095 projects already operational. The annual implementation rates were 90.6% in 2023 and 79.2% in 2024, while the first quarter of 2025 recorded 49.8%. 'Critics ask, 'Where are the results of these billions in investment?' The truth is, 86% of approved projects are up and running,' Anwar stated during the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly. He directed the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, to publicly share data on operational projects in key regions like Kulim, Johor, Sarawak, Sabah, and the Klang Valley. The prime minister emphasised that these projects, particularly in digital and green industries, have generated 50,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector in Q1 2025. Additionally, the median wage in the sector rose by 5.4% to RM2,745, aligning with the new minimum wage of RM1,700. Anwar also highlighted the efficiency of the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre (IMFC), established in December 2023, which has processed 28,166 investor applications with a 99.9% resolution rate. These applications covered approvals, permits, foreign worker quotas, utilities, and taxation. 'The civil service's role in facilitating these investments must be acknowledged. Their efficiency ensures that announced policies translate into real outcomes,' he added. – Bernama
Barnama
21-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Claims Multibillion-ringgit Investments Failed Are Baseless
BUSINESS 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.
Malaysian Reserve
15-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Tech exports and project delivery show progress under NIMP
by AUFA MARDHIAH MALAYSIA is seeing strong gains in exports and industrial execution under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), with higher tech exports and faster delivery of approved projects, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). Manufacturing value-added rose 4.1% year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter (1Q25) to RM95.7 billion, while median wages in the sector increased to RM2,745. Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (picture) said the median wage increased by RM145 to RM2,745 compared to RM2,600 in 1Q24 for the manufacturing sector. As part of NIMP's push to boost economic complexity, Malaysia has secured RM52 billion in advanced industry investments so far, with 23,211 potential jobs created and over 4,500 engineers trained. Exports in targeted sectors also saw solid growth between January and May this year. Electrical and electronics (E&E) exports rose 20%, machinery and equipment by 14.6% and medical devices by 7.8%. From 2021 to 1Q25, 86.4% of approved manufacturing projects were implemented — totalling over 3,000 projects — a move Tengku Zafrul said helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) benefit faster from investment inflows. 'Of the total approved investments, a small number of projects may not proceed due to reasons such as changes in the company's strategic direction, but this accounts for less than 3%,' he said today. Digital investments continue to rise, with RM310.7 billion approved since 2021, mostly in data centres. 'Every ringgit spent on data centres yields a RM6.60 return for the wider economy,' he added. To support exporters, MITI disbursed RM15 million in Market Development Grants in the first half of 2025 (1H25), generating RM2.88 billion in export sales. Focus markets include Latin America, Africa, West Asia and ASEAN. Malaysia also improved its global competitiveness, rising 11 places to 23rd in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking — its best showing since 2020. 'These improvements were driven by strong export growth and market diversification,' Tengku Zafrul said.
The Star
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Hippo birthday, Moo Deng!
One year of cuteness: Moo Deng eating her birthday cake made of fruits and vegetables at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province. — AP THE country's pygmy hippo Moo Deng marked her first birthday, drawing crowds of diehard fans even as she left behind the cute animal infancy that earned her worldwide Internet fame. Big crowds were expected at a four-day festival starting yesterday at Khao Kheow Open Zoo where Moo Deng – meaning 'Bouncy Pork' in Thai – frolicked to stardom and amassed five million social media followers. The first day of the extravaganza fell on a Thai public holiday with an agenda including a lecture on 'Moo Deng's cheekiness', while a skincare beautician paid US$3,000 (RM12,745) to sponsor her 'birthday cake' made of an edible plant arrangement. A small crowd of fans gathered outside her enclosure yesterday morning – fewer than the hordes she commanded at the height of her fame, but still animated with adoration. Visitor Jennifer Tang took a week off her work in Malaysia to make the trip, saying she was 'a little bit obsessed' with the calf she described as a 'chaos rage potato'. 'She's really special to me, she makes me happy,' she said. Tang insisted that Moo Deng is 'still really sassy and funny' despite approaching maturity. 'Take a look at the crowd today, she's still a legend,' she added. Moo Deng has swollen from 5kg at birth to 93kg today. Adoring fans: Visitors taking a photo with a Moo Deng mascot at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo. — AFP She spent her birthday plodding in her enclosure and submerged in a pond – a stark contrast to her energetic yet clumsy antics as a pint-sized pachyderm. 'Moo Deng used to be very naughty and jumped around all the time. Now, she only eats and sleeps,' said Attaphol Nundee, one of her six handlers. 'Her popularity has slowed,' admitted the 32-year-old. 'But some old fans have returned, and there are new ones, too.' Despite her waning fame, 'her eyes light up when people take photos of her', he said. Moo Deng took only a few demure bites of her birthday cake made of watermelon, corn, dragon fruit and tomato before her mother Joana devoured it almost in its entirety. 'She was kind of hesitant at first with the cake, so I was like, 'Oh my gosh, come on diva!'' said Molly Swindall, a TikTok influencer from the United States. Hundreds of spectators queued for their allotted five-minute audience with Moo Deng at the Chonburi province zoo, a two-hour drive from Bangkok. One fan took home Moo Deng's bathtub, which was auctioned off for around US$3,000 (RM12,700) to raise funds for the zoo. Moo Deng's blubbery rose-blushed face launched a thousand memes and a plethora of merchandise, including piggy banks, party shirts and popsicles – prompting her owners to trademark her likeness. At one point, her popularity quadrupled ticket sales for the zoo where she resides in a sparse, stone, five square metre public enclosure, once livestreamed 24/7. There were hopes that her stardom would spotlight the plight of the endangered pygmy hippo, native to West Africa with only around 2,500 left alive according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. But social media and search engine metrics suggest Moo Deng's popularity peaked around late September last year before dramatically declining. 'Moo Deng went viral very quickly when she was born,' said Joshua Paul Dale, an academic who teaches courses on the phenomenon of 'cuteness' at Japan's Chuo University. 'Maybe part of our appreciation of cuteness is knowing that it's something that doesn't last very long.' Moo Deng is part of a pantheon of captive animals who have enjoyed flash-in-the-pan popularity online, including Australia's Pesto the penguin and China's Hua Hua the panda. Pygmy hippos typically have a lifespan of between 30 and 50 years. — AFP
