KUALA LUMPUR – Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz responded to recent criticisms surrounding the announcement on approved investments in the country, emphasising that the practice has been a long-standing government approach.
Taking to social media platform X today, Tengku Zafrul acknowledged the right to criticise the government but urged the public and political entities to refrain from spreading falsehoods.
“It’s okay to criticise, but there’s no need to create a false narrative as if the approved investments were never announced by the previous governments.”
The minister’s statement followed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of a record-breaking approved investment of RM329.5 billion for the year 2023.
Tengku Zafrul expressed surprise at the sudden criticism from parties that were part of the government previously.
He pointed out that the government has consistently followed the practice of announcing approved investments, irrespective of the ruling party – be it Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional, or the current Madani government.
“This indicates that the method is indeed utilised to publicise investments,” he said.
“So, when the government announced the approved investment of RM329.5 billion, the highest in history, it was a bit strange that a party that was part of the previous government would suddenly criticise the approved investments,” Tengku Zafrul said, without mentioning the names of the party involved.
“When the investment was initially approved and announced (during their time in government), they remained silent, offering not a single word of criticism.”
Responding to critics yesterday, the minister revealed that half of the approved RM329.5 billion in investments for 2023 had already reached the implementation stage.
He explained that manufacturing projects typically take 18 to 24 months to complete, considering the need to purchase land, install complex equipment, and set up operational facilities.
Tengku Zafrul expressed optimism that the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and the International Trade and Industry Ministry would work towards increasing the rate of implementation for these projects.
Additionally, he shared statistics on social media, indicating that over 85% of manufacturing projects approved between 2021 and 2023 have been successfully implemented.
These projects, totalling 2,386, are expected to be completed within the next 18 to 24 months, depending on their complexity.
On February 23, Anwar acknowledged concerns about the fluctuation of the ringgit but pointed out that Malaysia had achieved a new record in investments.
He reassured the public that the government was monitoring the currency situation closely and highlighted the differences between the current economic conditions and those of 1998, emphasising that investments were up, and inflation was under control. – February 27, 2024