2025 Mar 14, 21:10
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his prioritization of the economy for 2024, has expressed optimism regarding Malaysia's economic growth for the upcoming year. The Prime Minister believes that the interest shown by foreigners to invest in Malaysia suggests the possibility of record-breaking investment in the country. Anwar shared these sentiments during a dialogue with chief editors and senior editors of various media outlets, where he emphasized the heightened interest in Malaysia and stated that it surpassed previous levels. This year, Malaysia has managed to secure significant potential investments, including RM6.56 billion from Japanese firms during Anwar's visit to Japan. During his visit to the United States, he also revealed that Malaysia had secured RM63.02 billion in proposed investments, mostly from technology giants
Nevertheless, Anwar acknowledges that there is still more work to be done to improve efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and streamline approval processes in order to attract further investments successfully. In addition to focusing on training quality and providing courses in technology and artificial intelligence, Anwar believes that political stability enables him to prioritize the economy in the coming year. When questioned about Malaysia's relations with China and the United States, Anwar emphasized the importance of maintaining good diplomatic and investment ties with both countries. He expressed that Malaysia wants to have good relationships with all nations and does not seek to interfere in any conflicts or disputes between other countries. Anwar also suggested that the "Look East Policy" should now include China alongside Japan and South Korea, given China's economic strength. He believes that Malaysia could learn from China's remarkable progress in technology and industries
The Look East Policy, originally introduced by then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1982, aimed to learn economic modernization strategies primarily from Japan and South Korea. Anwar also highlighted that Malaysia's visa-free policy for Chinese tourists would address security concerns and only prevent entry for individuals with records or security issues. Starting from December 1, Malaysia allows citizens of China and India 30-day visa-free entry as part of its efforts to boost tourism and utilize its economic potential for increased revenue and benefits to the people.