Mustapa: Country continues to attract foreign investors

KUALA LUMPUR: Political developments in Malaysia have been attracting quite a bit of attention in recent months but the government is “functioning and delivering”, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

Malaysia remains stable politically under Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and continues to be an attractive destination for many investors, Mustapa told the PwC-Insead second emerging market conference in Singapore yesterday.

In his keynote, he said Malaysia was committed to raising its competitiveness in the region while the government’s efforts and commitments to improve the business environment have borne fruits as reflected in the 50 per cent jump in the gross national income.

“We will continue to put money in infrastructure to make Malaysia more competitive in the region.”

Malaysia had invested significantly in developing and building infrastructure and investments have been heavy in highways, sea ports, airports, telecommunications, industrial parks and integrated economic zones, he added.

The Light Rapid Transit is being expanded and investments have gone into Mass Rapid Transit phase I and II, here.

“The High-Speed Rail, linking Malaysia and Singapore will be a game changer in transforming the economic landscape of Malaysia and improving connectivity between our two countries.

Also afoot are plans to build a brand new 600km railway line from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan in the East Coast while work on the PanBorneo Highway in Sabah and Sarawak has begun.

On the 2017 Budget to be tabled today, he said it would contain more details of the economic transformation and the commitment to growth. Rupa Damodaran International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed