SOME 984 proposed projects worth an estimated RM105.3bil are under negotiations and being overseen by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), says Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Aziz.
The Investment, Trade and Industry Minister said this comprised RM89.5bil of foreign direct investments and RM15.8bil of domestic direct investments.
“These include 53 projects from the manufacturing sector with proposed investments of RM73.6bil, and 931 proposed projects in the services sector involving RM31.7bil,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Tengku Zafrul was responding to Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) who had asked about the investment forecast next year and measures to ensure projects are distributed evenly across all states.
He said the New Investment Policy, based on the National Investments Aspirations, emphasised the importance of balanced regional development.
The New Industrial Master Plan 2030 also safeguards economic security and inclusivity, Tengku Zafrul added.
“For instance, Kedah and Perak can benefit from the economic spillover effect of the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector in Bayan Lepas and Batu Kawan in Penang.
“It will create new industrial clusters and supporting industries, such as high-tech manufacturing and resource activities in the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (in Kedah), while Perak can also support the E&E cluster in Penang,” he said.
Tengku Zafrul also said the government has agreed to review the investment promotion agency ecosystem, starting with the phased streamlining of their roles and functions to ensure that every state benefits from investment spillover effects.
