FDI: ‘Tewas’ Dengan Negara Jiran, Kerajaan Perlu Ambil Langkah Segera

PENGALIRAN masuk pelaburan langsung asing (FDI) Malaysia jatuh 68% ke USD2.5 bilion pada 2020. ‘Tewas’ kepada negara-negara jiran.

FDI Singapura cuma jatuh 37% kepada USD58 bilion, Indonesia 24% ke USD18 bilion dan Vietnam 10% ke USD14 bilion.

Ini bukan saya kata. Ini laporan oleh Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu mengenai Perdagangan dan Pembangunan (UNCTAD).

Malaysia yang suatu ketika dulu antara ekonomi paling pesat di rantau ini kini ketinggalan berbanding negara jiran dalam perang ekonomi melawan COVID-19.

Malah jika dilihat pada graf sumber dari Bank Dunia dan unjuran MIER, penurunan yang agak ketara pada ekonomi Malaysia sebanyak 2.9% pada tahun 2019-2020.

Benar COVID-19 menguncupkan ekonomi global, tetapi kestabilan politik tunjang utama dalam menarik minat pelabur langsung asing bertapak di negara ini.

Segan juga terbaca kenyataan Ketua Eksekutif Eurocham yang menyebut Malaysia memerlukan lebih dari beberapa kata-kata yang bagus dan ‘window dressing’.

Beberapa langkah segera perlu diambil untuk memperbaiki keadaan ini. Perlu ada ‘political will’ yang kuat untuk ini.

Antaranya kerajaan perlu berani dan bersedia untuk ‘sitdown’ dengan pelabur dan pemain industri.

Kestabilan politik perlu dikembalikan segera selepas ancaman COVID-19 dapat ditangani.

Proklamasi darurat dikhuatiri menyebabkan pelabur kurang yakin dengan kemungkinan dasar ‘nationalizing’.

Menawarkan insentif pengurangan cukai yang lebih menarik kepada perusahaan asing yang mahu beroperasi di negara ini.

Memantapkan sektor domestik seperti pembuatan, perkhidmatan, teknologi maklumat dan lain-lain.

Kitaran ekonomi domestik yang sihat mampu menarik minat pelabur langsung asing.

Dan paling penting kebajikan rakyat perlu diutamakan bagi memperlihatkan Malaysia destinasi yang selamat kepada pelabur.

DATO’ SERI DR AHMAD ZAHID HAMIDI
PRESIDEN

FDI: Losing out to neighbors, we need action plan

THE INFLOW of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia fell 68% to $2.5 billion in 2020, at the foot of neighboring countries.
Singapore FDI fell 37% to USD58 billion, Indonesia 24% to USD18 billion and Vietnam 10% to USD14 billion.
This is not what I said. This is based on an official report by the United Nations on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Malaysia, which was once one of the fastest growing economies in the region, is now lagging behind its neighbors in the economic war against COVID-19.
In fact, if you look at the chart by the World Bank and the MIER projection, there was a relatively significant decline in the Malaysian economy of 2.9% in 2019-2020. It is true that COVID-19 contributes to the global economy but political stability is the main pillar attracting foreign investors to the country.
An Eurocham’s CEO’s statement that Malaysia needs more than a few good words and ‘window dressing’ is in fact very alarming. Some immediate steps need to be taken to improve this situation. We need a strong ‘political will’ for this.
Among which, the government needs to be ready for having ‘sitdowns’ with investors and industry players. Political stability needs to be restored immediately after the COVID-19 threat can be addressed. An emergency proclamation is feared to cause investors to be less confident of our country.
Perhaps we can offer them a more attractive tax reduction incentives, and at the same time strengthen the domestic sector such as manufacturing, services, information technology and others.
A healthy domestic economic cycle is able to attract FDIs. And most paramount is the welfare of the people must be given a top priority.
DATO’ SERI DR AHMAD ZAHID HAMIDI
UMNO President
Derma Tabung Perjuangan