MELAKA: Google chose Malaysia for its RM61bil investment only after assessing several other countries, including some in Asean, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a day after the tech giant announced the commitment.
Anwar said the announcement was Google’s to make, not the government’s.
"Google from the United States, through its leader Ruth Porat who came here, announced it. Not me. The company announced the decision.
"After assessing the possibility of investing in several countries, including several Asean nations, they decided that Google would invest RM61bil in Malaysia," he said in his speech at the Majlis Anugerah Tangan Emas Perdana Menteri at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) here on Thursday (Nov 5).
Anwar said he took the opportunity to speak to Porat, Alphabet and Google’s president and chief investment officer, and also messaged her on WhatsApp.
"I asked her to be frank with me. Don’t follow protocol. Tell me honestly what our strengths and weaknesses are," he said.
He said Porat told him Malaysia was chosen for its political stability and clear economic policies.
Anwar credited secretaries-general, directors-general and state governments for carrying out the policies without delay.
"Implement them diligently. Don’t delay. This is what made people confident, to the point that Google is bringing RM61bil to Malaysia.
"This is a big gift," he said.
Porat also told him Malaysian workers needed further training to deepen their specialisation, he added.
On Wednesday (Nov 4), Google announced it would invest US$15bil (RM61bil) over 2027 and 2028 in data centre campuses and cloud operations in Malaysia.
