Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had singled out me and the Penang state government in his latest politically-motivated attack in his blog. The Prime Minister claimed that foreign investors are leaving or Foreign Direct Investments(FDIs) no longer interested in coming to Penang. This is untrue.
Figures from MIDA from 2008-2016 reveal that Penang came out third in Malaysia for FDIs, with RM 41,554 million, losing out only to Johor’s RM 55,751 million and Sarawak’s RM 48,371 million. If Penang is in trouble, then the other 11 states in Malaysia who have less FDIs than Penang, are in greater trouble.
(see attached table)
The Penang state government has no interest in playing politics with the Prime Minister on FDIs. FDIs is too important an economic and livelihood issue for 30 million Malaysians to be weaponized against political opponents. The Penang state government will continue to collaborate with the Federal government to attract more FDIs, especially in the digital or manufacturing (electrical and electronic) industry which creates jobs and business opportunities.