BANGKOK: Malaysia is strengthening its business environment, policy certainty and economic resilience to attract long-term investment, with foreign and domestic direct investments reaching record highs, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
He said the government was reinforcing the country's economic fundamentals through regulatory clarity, business-friendly policies and reforms to provide investors with greater certainty when operating in Malaysia.
"Malaysia recorded gross domestic product growth of more than five per cent for two consecutive years while maintaining stable inflation, despite growing geopolitical uncertainties.
"Malaysia's story is resilience," he said at the Bloomberg Global Policy Series: ASEAN Growth Markets Spotlight – Competing and Connecting for Global Capital here on Friday.
Amir Hamzah said Malaysia was also focused on moving its economy up the value chain by strengthening key industries, including semiconductors, and deepening domestic supply chains to create higher-value jobs and enhance its competitiveness in global trade.
"We want to extend the supply chain and deepen the ecosystem," he said, adding that a stronger industrial ecosystem would develop local talent, improve supply chain reliability and strengthen Malaysia's position in global trade.
Amir Hamzah said the government was also seeking to expand the role of private markets in capital formation, enabling angel investors and venture capital to support businesses and strengthen the pipeline of companies entering public markets.
He said Malaysia's domestic capital base provided a strong foundation for growth, while improved corporate governance and value creation would help enhance the attractiveness of its capital market to international investors.
He also highlighted the importance of ASEAN integration, including better-connected capital markets, more efficient cross-border payment systems and the ASEAN Power Grid, in unlocking investment opportunities and strengthening regional supply chains.
Amir Hamzah said Malaysia would continue to focus on infrastructure development, economic diversification and consistent policy implementation to support sustainable growth and ensure its benefits reached the wider population.
"Whatever clarity that we've given, we've executed along that line. No surprises," he said, stressing that policy consistency and a supportive business environment remained central to Malaysia's investment appeal.
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