Record deals since Merdeka
MELAKA: Malaysia has approved investments amounting to RM89.8bil in the first quarter of this year, the largest amount for this time period since Merdeka, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that this figure was a 3.7% increase compared to the same period last year, signalling strong investor confidence even as global supply chains and investments are being affected by tariffs imposed by the United States.
'This figure also demonstrates that our economy remains resilient and competitive despite global turbulence and economic uncertainty, including the imposition of tariffs by the United States,' he said during his keynote address at the 2025 National TVET Day celebration held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh yesterday.
Anwar also revealed that a major US-based chip manufacturer had recently expressed interest in investing RM10bil in Malaysia.
'In principle, we have agreed to the proposal, but we have asked the American company to hold until July 9 when President Trump is expected to finalise the new tariff rates,' he said.
'However, the investors indicated they are still keen to proceed, confident that Malaysia will not be significantly affected by the tariffs.'
Anwar said that the company had requested expedited approval to begin operations in the country.
'Beyond political stability, foreign investors have also been impressed by the professionalism and discipline of our local workforce.
'This sentiment was echoed in a recent meeting with Google, where they acknowledged that Malaysia's talent pool is among the best in Asia in terms of discipline and skill,' he added.
Anwar said the recent development also reinforces the fact that the government's clear policies, along with political stability, continue to position Malaysia as an attractive destination for global investment.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
27 minutes ago
- The Star
Dewan Rakyat passes Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2025, which is aimed at strengthening enforcement against illegal activities involving the misuse of poisons and psychotropic substances. The Bill was passed by a voice vote after being debated by 12 MPs from both the Government and Opposition blocs. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, when winding up the debate, said the amendments also intended to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of enforcement action by relevant agencies. "This amendment is important to align the country's laws with international conventions such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988." The amendments focus on empowering authorised officers, enhancing training and monitoring, and streamlining the control of poisons and prohibited substances, including those found in vape products. Dzulkefly further explained that the amendments would not cause overlapping of powers between agencies such as the police, drug enforcement officers and customs, as each operated within its respective scope and jurisdiction. "Drug enforcement officers focus on handling poisons and psychotropic substances related to medicines and industrial chemicals. The police monitor abuse of banned substances, while the Customs Department control the entry and exit of these substances at national entry points," he said. Among others, the Bill amends Section 2 of the Poisons Act 1952 to redefine "authorised officer" to include any police officer of any rank and any person appointed by the Health Minister under Section 31A as an authorised officer. It also aims to broaden the definition of "premises" to include any land, building or part of a building, any onshore or offshore installation, or any structure whether floating or fixed, mobile or immobile. Earlier, the Dewan Rakyat also passed the Fees (Pengkalan Kubor Ferry) (Validation) Bill 2025 to validate the collection of ferry service fees at the Pengkalan Kubor Ferry Terminal in Kelantan, collected from Jan 1, 1999, to Dec 31, 2024, which had not been gazetted under the Fees Act 1951. – Bernama


New Straits Times
27 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
US-China set to meet with extension of tariff pause on the cards
STOCKHOLM: Top economic officials from the United States and China are set to renew negotiations Monday, with an extension of lower tariff levels on the cards as President Donald Trump's trade policy enters a critical week. Talks between the world's top two economies are slated to happen over two days in the Swedish capital Stockholm, and they come as other countries are also rushing to finalise deals with Washington. For dozens of trading partners, failing to strike an agreement in the coming days means they could face significant tariff hikes on exports to the United States come Friday, August 1. The steeper rates, threatened against partners like Brazil and India, would raise the duties their products face from a "baseline" of 10 per cent now to levels up to 50 per cent. Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have already effectively raised duties on US imports to levels not seen since the 1930s, according to data from The Budget Lab research centre at Yale University. For now, all eyes are on discussions between Washington and Beijing as a delegation including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent meets a Chinese team led by Vice Premier He Lifeng in Sweden. Beijing said on Monday it hoped the two sides could hold talks in the spirit of "mutual respect and reciprocity." Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing sought to "enhance consensus through dialogue and communication, reduce misunderstandings, strengthen cooperation and promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US relations." While both countries in April imposed tariffs on each other's products that reached triple-digit levels, US duties this year have temporarily been lowered to 30 per cent and China's countermeasures slashed to 10 per cent. But the 90-day truce, instituted after talks in Geneva in May, is set to expire on August 12. Since the Geneva meeting, the two sides have convened in London to iron out disagreements. "There seems to have been a fairly significant shift in (US) administration thinking on China since particularly the London talks," said Emily Benson, head of strategy at Minerva Technology Futures. "The mood now is much more focused on what's possible to achieve, on warming relations where possible and restraining any factors that could increase tensions," she told AFP. Talks with China have not produced a deal but Benson said both countries have made progress, with certain rare earth and semiconductor flows restarting. "Secretary Bessent has also signalled that he thinks a concrete outcome will be to delay the 90-day tariff pause," she said. "That's also promising, because it indicates that something potentially more substantive is on the horizon." The South China Morning Post, citing sources on both sides, reported Sunday that Washington and Beijing are expected to extend their tariff pause by another 90 days. Trump has announced pacts so far with the European Union, Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, although details have been sparse. An extension of the US-China deal to keep tariffs at reduced levels "would show that both sides see value in continuing talks", said Thibault Denamiel, a fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. US-China Business Council president Sean Stein said the market was not anticipating a detailed readout from Stockholm: "What's more important is the atmosphere coming out." "The business community is optimistic that the two presidents will meet later this year, hopefully in Beijing," he told AFP. "It's clear that on both sides, the final decision-maker is going to be the president." For others, the prospect of higher US tariffs and few details from fresh trade deals mark "a far cry from the ideal scenario", said Denamiel. But they show some progress, particularly with partners Washington has signalled are on its priority list like the EU, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea. The EU unveiled a pact with Washington on Sunday while Seoul is rushing to strike an agreement, after Japan and the Philippines already reached the outlines of deals. Breakthroughs have been patchy since Washington promised a flurry of agreements after unveiling, and then swiftly postponing, tariff hikes targeting dozens of economies in April. Denamiel warned of overlooking countries that fall outside Washington's priority list.


The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
Thailand-Cambodia peace talks begin in Putrajaya amid border tensions
PUTRAJAYA: The special meeting between Thailand and Cambodia, aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire and halting hostilities along the disputed border, began in Putrajaya on Monday. The talks, facilitated by Malaysia and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the current ASEAN Chair, seek to reduce tensions and restore stability in the conflict-affected border regions. Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai arrived at Seri Perdana, the official residence of the Malaysian prime minister, at about 2.51 pm, followed shortly by Cambodian leader Hun Manet. Both leaders were welcomed by Anwar. Also present at the meeting were US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, with the US as co-organiser and China as an observer. Last Friday, Anwar had called Phumtham and Manet separately, urging both leaders to agree to an immediate ceasefire and return to dialogue to resolve their dispute. Anwar reiterated Malaysia's readiness to assist in the process, emphasising ASEAN unity and shared responsibility. The two Southeast Asian nations have a history of diplomatic disputes over an 817-kilometre undemarcated border stretch. Tensions escalated on May 28 after a skirmish near the contested Preah Vihear border area, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier. Renewed clashes broke out on July 24, with armed confrontations reported along Cambodia's northern border, leading to casualties on both sides. So far, over 20 fatalities have been reported on the Thai side, while Cambodian authorities confirmed 13 deaths, including five soldiers. Thousands of civilians from both countries have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict. - Bernama