HUNDREDS of industrial parks have opened in Malaysia since the country started its march towards industrialisation in the 1970s. These parks have played a crucial role in supporting growth, but challenges abound now. These include fire safety, unsafe practices and detrimental impact on the environment.
The setting up of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) in 1972 was a turning point in Malaysia’s economic strategy, shifting from agriculture to manufacturing, says Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid.
