Good governance will make Malaysia attractive for investment — Baru

LAWAS: Former works minister and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) candidate for Lawas, Baru Bian, said it is imperative that Malaysia regain its competitive edge in investment and put in place good governance to control price hikes of goods and services.

He pointed out that the spike in cost of living is related to the way the country is governed apart from the lack of conducive environment to attract investments. He said corruption issues in the previous government resulted in investors moving their operations from Malaysia to other countries.

“Foreign investors who come to Malaysia are forced to close their companies here and flee to countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, because they no longer have confidence in our ringgit currency,” he told The Borneo Post and its sister paper Utusan Borneo.

He pointed out that Malaysia was ahead of Indonesia and Vietnam a decade ago but they have progressed and are now growing at a fast pace compared to our country. Baru, who was a cabinet member under the Pakatan Harapan governmaent, said the escalating price of goods and ringgit depreciation are issues faced by the people now.

“If corruption becomes a government practice, this will cause the economic situation in the country to spiral downwards. Confidence is important, if foreign investors have confidence in the government and leaders, they will definitely come and invest here,” he said.

He said foreign investors are spooked as there is trust deficit when the former prime minister himself was found guilty of corruption

“So this is what we want the people to understand and know because good economic situation and governance make the country attractive for investment,” he added.

Baru is taking on incumbent Datuk Henry Sum Agong of Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Japar Suyut of Pakatan Harapan in the tussle for Lawas seat in this election. He is former Selangau MP.