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Universal Robots (UR), the world’s leading collaborative robot (cobot) company, urged local manufacturing industries to boost investment in robotics and advanced automation to help Malaysia achieve its targeted Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for manufacturing sector of RM587.5 billion by 2030, in line with New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP 2030).

In a statement released today, UR said NIMP 2030 has identified several key challenges including slow improvement in economic complexity and stagnated growth in labour productivity. Malaysia’s degree of economic complexity as measured by the Economic Complexity Index (ECI) has been stagnant up to 2020; while labour productivity growth is lower than Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines since 2000, and lower than Vietnam since 2005.

NIMP 2030 aims to catalyse Malaysia’s manufacturing industry growth by increasing economic complexity in production, advancing digital adoption, championing zero emissions, and safeguarding economic security and inclusivity. Malaysia Robotic Roadmap 2021 to 2030 sets a robot density target of 195 units per 10,000 employees by 2030, from 55 units per 10,000 employees in 2019.

Among the industrial tasks identified for robotics and advanced automation in NIMP 2030 include welding, assembling, inspecting defects and packaging – all crucial areas which cobots are best designed for. Capable of performing a myriad of applications, cobots are designed to share the workspace with humans, making automation easier for businesses of all sizes. Meanwhile, the global collaborative robots market size, valued at US$1.23 billion in 2022, is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.0% from 2023 to 2030.

Compared to industrial robots, cobots offer a lightweight and space-saving solution capable of flexibility on the manufacturing floor. For instance, a singular cobot can be deployed for assembling and palletising yet redeployed for welding and inspecting defects later down the line. The different capabilities of cobots allows automation for different forms of manufacturing – from automotive and medical devices, to pharmaceutical and machinery.

“Cobots offer manufacturers in Malaysia, from SMEs to MNCs, a flexible solution capable of performing a range of applications at energy efficient levels,” said UR Regional President APAC Adam Sobieski.

“Accelerating the adoption of automation will be key in driving innovation, enhancing productivity, and creating new opportunities for growth. It will play a pivotal role in charting the next seven years of Malaysia’s industrial transformation.”

Cobots also support the NIMP 2030’s push for net zero. When put against industrial robots, the smaller size of cobots is an obvious difference, translating to less energy consumed during operation. For example, the UR3e only consumes 100W on average, which is the same amount of energy as an average desktop computer. The slightly larger UR5e and the newest generation of gaming consoles both use approximately 200W. Moving up in size, the UR10e and UR16e have average power consumption of 350W, the same amount of power as a basic household blender, while having the ability to carry 10 and 16 kilos respectively. The newest generation cobot – the UR20, can carry a payload of 20 kilos using 500W, the same amount of power as the most efficient washing machines.

One common misconception is that automation takes over the job of human workers, but the goal of cobots is to work alongside humans collaboratively. Cobots take over the tedious, dangerous, and straining aspects of manufacturing, while allowing human workers to be deployed for more human-centric aspects of the job. Adopting a cobot does not mean sacking a worker, but giving said worker an additional helping hand with the job. In fact, this helps upskill the worker through exposure to technology, providing opportunity previously lacking with manual labour. It aids in building supply chain resilience and giving security to the labour force, which contributes to the NIMP 2030 mission of safeguarding economic security and inclusivity.

In the bid to encourage the adoption of automation in Malaysia, UR will also be hosting Collaborate APAC 2023 in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 25, 2023 – the largest cobot conference in the region.

Source: The Sun Daily

Robotics and advanced automation pivotal in New Industrial Master Plan Transformation

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Sama Jaya High-Tech Park here has attracted more than RM14 billion worth of investments and created many economic spinoffs since its establishment, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.

He said the park currently has created 15,000 employment opportunities, of which 98 per cent are filled by locals.

“Last year alone, Sama Jaya generated a total of RM758 million in wages for the workers and generated RM8.9 billion worth of exports,” he said at the opening of the new factory of Taiyo Yuden (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd

The premier said, apart from Taiyo Yuden, Sama Jaya is also home to several major multinational corporations such as X-FAB (semiconductor), Western Digital (glass and aluminium substrates) LONGi (solar ingots, wafers, cells and modules) and Lotte EM (copper foil used in batteries for electric vehicle).

He said these corporations are also expanding to cater to the needs of the global market, adding that they have a network of supporting industries that have formed a cluster here at the park.

He said the state government welcomes more companies in their value chain to set up in Sarawak to support their operations.

Abang Johari said the state Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment is planning to develop the Kuching High-Tech Park in phases, with an area of 738.6 hectares located at the boundary of the Kuching and Samarahan Divisions.

He said the project is to meet the increasing demand from investors and attract more foreign direct investment, especially in the electronic and electrical sectors.

He added the project is expected to be fully completed by 2030, creating more business and employment opportunities for the locals.

On Taiyo Yuden, Abang Johari said he was informed that it has invested over RM3 billion in its Sarawak operations.

“Currently, it is the largest employer in Sama Jaya, hiring 4,800 personnel, with almost all of them locals, except for the top management,” he said, adding that 616 (12.8 per cent) of Taiyo Yuden’s total workforce is made up of degree and diploma holders.

He said that Taiyo Yuden’s new two-storey factory building, situated on a 29-hectare site, is to meet the growing market demand for multi-layered ceramic capacitors in response to the advancement of technologies for automobiles with more electrical and electronic controlled components, communications infrastructures such as serves and base nation communication devices, 5G smartphones and other markets.

Source: Malay Mail

Over RM14b invested in Sama Jaya High-Tech Park, says Sarawak premier

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ROHM-Wako Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (RWEM), a major Japanese electronics manufacturer, is confident of meeting the demand for gate driver integrated circuits (GDIC) and transistor components due to its Kelantan facility expansion.

RWEM president Hideki Hashimoto said the expansion involved a three-storey building, called “Building B”, which was completed in August this year.

“In this building, we plan to manufacture GDICs and transistors. Production capacity will continue to grow in Kelantan due to the advancement of technology such as electric cars, self-driving cars and the Internet of Things.

“This is because the users of our products will continue to increase along with the production of new products in the future,” he said at the opening ceremony of the new building in Pengkalan Chepa, here on Thursday.

The ceremony was inaugurated by Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.

Hashimoto said with the opening of the new building, RWEM is expected to be able to offer more job opportunities to the people of Kelantan.

“With the full operational capacity of Building B, we will be able to offer jobs to more local residents.

“We will work together to develop this company and contribute to the progress of Kelantan and Malaysia in the future,” he said.

In March last year, RWEM expanded its electronic component facility in Kelantan with an investment worth RM910 million.

It was reported that the investment would also create more than 340 highly skilled jobs.

Source: Bernama

ROHM-Wako expects to fulfil demand as new facility begins operations

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SAM Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd plans to inject another RM200 million into its equipment business in Thailand in its current financial year ending March 31, 2024 (FY2024) and the following year.

According to the minutes of the group’s annual general meeting conducted on a virtual basis on Sept 27, SAM said that as it continues to win more projects, it may require additional investment. The minutes were filed with Bursa Malaysia on Thursday.

“We have several options to fund our investment, including from internal funds, bank borrowings and raising funds from the public market,” the group had said in response to a shareholder’s question during the meeting.

According to its 2023 annual report, SAM’s capital expenditure in FY2023 stood at RM222.9 million, which it noted was “mainly for capacity expansion of its equipment business in Thailand”.

SAM has three plants in Thailand, two of which are in the Rojana Industrial Park, and the other in Ban Bueng. One plant in Rojana has already been in operation for two years, while the other two plants are scheduled to commence mass production sometime in FY2024.

In response to a separate question concerning the advantages of its Thailand plants versus its plants in Penang, SAM said it addresses the concerns of the group’s customers on placing all manufacturing activities in one place, which would limit its ability to ensure supply to customers.

“The manufacturing facilities in Thailand mitigates this single-location risk, and allow the company to continue its operations under different conditions,” the group said.

“Apart from that, Penang as a semiconductor hub is also facing certain bottlenecks for growth, particularly on skilled manpower supply. Training and developing skillful manpower will be done but will take time.

“Operating in a different geographical area enables the company to tap into a different talent pool, which is important for the company,” it added.

SAM’s total borrowings more than doubled to RM479.5 million as at end-March this year, up from RM211.0 million a year ago, which it mainly attributed to financing the purchase of property, plant and equipment for the expansion in Thailand as well as working capital requirement to support business growth.

Its equipment business in Thailand is operated under its wholly-owned subsidiary SAM Precision (Thailand) Ltd, which manufactures dies, jigs, parts and cutting tools for disk drives, electronics, semiconductors and assembly of modular or complete machines and equipment.

Besides its equipment business segment, SAM operates another business segment of manufacturing parts for the aviation industry, namely aircraft engine casings, nacelle beams and aero structure products.

It is worth noting that in September, SAM announced that it plans to buy aircraft structure parts and precision engineering components manufacturer Aviatron (M) Sdn Bhd for US$43.4 million (RM203.44 million) cash in a related party transaction (RPT).

The acquisition is deemed an RPT as SAM is purchasing Aviatron from its major shareholder Singapore Aerospace Manufacturing Pte Ltd (SAMPL), which controls 62.49% of SAM.

To fund the acquisition, SAM proposed a renounceable one-for-four rights issue involving 135.397 million new shares at an indicative issue price of RM4.12, to raise RM557.84 million.

The Aviatron acquisition is to take up 36.47% of the rights issue proceeds, with RM200.5 million to repay advances from SAMPL (35.94%), RM149.9 million to repay bank borrowings (26.87%) and RM4 million left to defray expenses relating to the proposals.

Shares in SAM ended three sen or 0.68% lower to RM4.35, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM2.36 billion.

Source: The Edge Malaysia

SAM Engineering to invest another RM200 mil in Thai equipment business

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Sarawak is rapidly becoming a magnet for foreign investors, with notable expansion projects and substantial investments underway in the state, said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Speaking to reporters after officiating at the inauguration of Taiyo Yuden’s new factory building at Sama Jaya High Tech Park here, Abang Johari highlighted the remarkable growth and increasing confidence of foreign investors in Sarawak.

He pointed to Taiyo Yuden, a leading Japanese materials and electronics company, as a prime example of this trend, as the company expands its operations in Sarawak.

“Taiyo Yuden is a remarkable example of the growing confidence foreign investors have in Sarawak. The company’s commitment extends beyond its current project, with plans to construct three additional buildings alongside its existing facilities,” he said.

Taiyo Yuden’s expansion project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, with plans to hire approximately 4,800 individuals including about 600 engineering graduates, said Abang Johari.

“The confidence of foreign investors in us is high. Many other companies are currently in development, including LONGi and XFab, which will provide high-paying job opportunities. This aligns with our PCDS development strategy,” he added.

Earlier in his address, Abang Johari also outlined the state government’s commitment to meeting the increasing demand from investors and attracting further foreign direct investment (FDI).

Plans are underway to expand ports and develop state-of-the-art facilities in Kuching to cater to the expanding business community.

Sarawak’s dedication to sustainable development has attracted global attention, garnering favourable ratings from respected international rating agencies such as Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s Investor Services.

These endorsements validate Sarawak’s strategy to attract high-quality investments and drive large-scale development, all while adhering to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

Sarawak has implemented robust policies and procedures to ensure transparency, integrity, and good governance, with a strong focus on improving the ease of doing business in accordance with ESG principles.

As such, there are ample opportunities across all sectors, both the supply and value chains, beginning from the development of growth enablers to economic activities, he said.

“I would like to urge our local entrepreneurs, particularly SMEs, to continuously upgrade your capabilities and capacities so as to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of the global markets.

“The government will continue to facilitate and nurture our SMEs. At the same time, the private sector as the engine of growth must be proactive and grab the opportunities made available from government and private sector initiatives,” he added.

Source: Borneo Post

Premier: Sarawak’s sustainable development a magnet for foreign investors

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Sarawak plans to develop the Kuching High-Tech Park to meet growing demand from investors and attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) in the electrical and electronics sectors, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Premier said the park would be developed in phases by the state International Trade, Industry and Investment Ministry on a 738ha area in the Kuching and Samarahan divisions.

“The project is expected to be fully completed by 2030, creating more business and employment opportunities for locals,” he said when opening Taiyo Yuden (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd’s new factory at Sama Jaya High-Tech Park here on Thursday (Oct 12).

Abang Johari said the state government would continue with its business-friendly policies to attract more investments, especially in high-tech and green industries.

Citing the success of Sama Jaya in attracting investments worth over RM14bil, he said this augured well for the state’s industrialisation agenda to become a high-income economy by 2030.

In addition, he said Sama Jaya had created 15,000 employment opportunities, of which 98% were filled by locals.

“Last year alone, Sama Jaya generated a total of RM758mil in wages for workers, which ultimately flows back into our local economy.

“In the same year, the export value generated from Sama Jaya was RM8.9bil,” he said.

On Taiyo Yuden, Abang Johari said the Japanese company had invested more than RM3bil in its Sarawak operations and was currently the largest employer in Sama Jaya with 4,800 personnel.

He said the new factory, which commences operations this month, was an environmentally-friendly plant contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases through energy conservation.

It will also create energy by introducing solar power generation on its roof.

Source: The Star

Sarawak to develop Kuching High-Tech Park as investor demand grows, says Premier

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The dream of a high-tech automotive valley in the country inched closer to reality with two more agreements inked.

Prior to the agreement signing ceremony here yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chaired a high-level project development meeting on the proposed Automotive Hi-Tech Valley (AHTV) at Proton City here.

The meeting included senior members of the AHTV project team together with federal and state government officials.

The first agreement, a Master Collaboration Agreement (MCA), was signed between DRB-Hicom Bhd (DRB-Hicom) properties and corporate planning and strategy group chief operating officer Azri Zaharuddin and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd (Geely) senior vice-president and chief operating officer Dr Wei Mei.

It is to set and formalise the underlying principles, governance framework and mutual commitment of the AHTV project, including specific roles to be undertaken for development and promotional initiatives.

The second agreement was a Heads of Agreement (HOA) between Altel Communications Sdn Bhd (Altel) group chief executive officer Richard Kitts and Geely’s strategically invested Zhejiang Geespace Technology Co Ltd (Geespace) chief executive officer Tony Wang.

The HOA would focus on the development and implementation of high technology systems and will expedite the deployment of innovative solutions within sectors like smart ports.

During Anwar’s trip to Beijing for the Malaysia-China Business Summit in April, a record RM170bil worth of investments from China were signed through 19 MOUs.

The highlight was the agreement to develop the RM32bil AHTV here, which would focus on new energy vehicles (NEV).

In a Facebook posting, Anwar said the AHTV was a mega project that would turn Tanjung Malim into a global automotive hub for NEV.

“It will also expand to include talent development, research and development and urbanisation.

“The support of the unity government and the smooth running of this project serves as an example to investors of Malaysia’s approach in facilitating investment efficiently and promptly,” he added.

Also present at the event were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Geely chairman Eric Li and Proton chairman Syed Faisal Albar.

Source: The Star

‘High-tech automotive valley soon’

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Sabah welcomes foreign investors to explore collaboration opportunities in the state.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Sabah is rich with natural resources and other industries that can be tapped into with government-linked companies or the private sector in the state.

“We hope to get more foreign investments and attract interests from investors to do business here,” he said during a courtesy call from Wayne Robson, the High Commissioner for Canada in Malaysia on Wednesday (Oct 11).

During this meeting at Hajiji’s office at the Menara Kinabalu, both parties expressed interest in tourism, education, and investment opportunities.

They also spoke of the visit by the Royal Canadian Navy warship HMCS Ottawa to Kota Kinabalu soon.

Source: The Star

Sabah’s door is open to all investors, says Hajiji

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Malaysia has achieved 60.3 per cent of its target for investments for 2023 within the first half of the year, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said.

More than half of it (52.2 per cent) were domestic direct investments (DDI) while the rest were foreign direct investments (FDI), he said.

“The target for investments for the year 2023 is RM220 billion and the country has achieved 60.3 per cent of it by June 2023 with approved investments of as much as RM132.6 billion,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to backbencher Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng yesterday.

The minister said that foreign investments from 10 countries made up 92.9 per cent of total foreign investments.

He listed the 10 countries as: Singapore, Japan, Netherlands, China, the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, South Korea, the United States, Italy and Seychelles.

These 10 countries’ investments were focused on the manufacturing (RM32.6 billion) and service sector (RM24.9 billion), he added.

He said that these investments were concentrated in five states: Kuala Lumpur (RM16.2 billion), Kedah (RM11.9 billion), Selangor (RM11.4 billion), Johor (RM9.5 billion), and Sarawak (RM3.2 billion).

The five main industries foreign investments focused on were: information and communication (RM23.1 billion), electrical and electronics (RM11.9 billion), machinery and equipment (RM9.1 billion), transport equipment (RM4.2 billion) and basic metal products (RM2.3 billion).

Tengku Zafrul was responding to a question from Lim regarding the 10 highest FDIs approved this year and their locations as well as the total investment target for 2023.

Last month, national news agency Bernama reported Tengku Zafrul as saying that his ministry expects Malaysia to record stronger growth in the second half of this year.

He called the investments a vote of confidence in the Malaysian economy and what it offers to foreign investors, which includes a pro-business government.

Auditor-General Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi told reporters in Parliament yesterday that Malaysia is doing much better financially now and has achieved stability even with a higher sovereign debt when compared to the past three years since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Because of that, she said the National Audit Department was able to provide the federal government with a Certificate Without Reprimand With Other Matter for its latest financial statement.

Source: Malay Mail

Investment minister says Malaysia hit 60pc of target for 2023 by July

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Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) clean energy powerhouse is set to invest US$8 billion (US$1=RM4.72) for up to 10 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy (RE) projects in Malaysia.

According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the company had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MIDA, forming a strategic partnership and marking an important milestone in the pursuit of a sustainable and greener future for Malaysia.

In a statement, MIDA said it would facilitate Masdar to develop the RE projects, which include ground-mounted, rooftop and floating solar power plants, onshore wind farms and battery energy storage systems.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the UAE — through Masdar — has set a commendable example in its national pursuit of sustainability, with its recognised leadership in clean energy, low-carbon and nature-based solutions.

“This MIDA-Masdar collaboration is perfectly aligned with the objectives of the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) in achieving sustainability and energy security for Malaysia’s industrial transformation,“ he said.

MIDA chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman said the partnership underscores its commitment to driving positive change and embracing a greener, more sustainable future.

“MIDA has proactively and enthusiastically engaged with industry partners in the country to foster innovation and cultivate solutions that are aimed at reducing carbon emissions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Masdar’s CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said Masdar is proud to play its part in helping Malaysia achieve its ambitious target of 70 per cent RE installed capacity and net-zero emissions by 2050.

“As a global clean energy pioneer with a proven track record in the commercialisation and deployment of renewable and clean energy projects, Masdar is proud to play its part in helping Malaysia achieve its ambitious targets.

“We will bring all our expertise in delivering robust projects that utilise cutting-edge technologies and generate much-needed energy efficiently to advance Malaysia’s RE goals,“ he said.

Established in 2006, Masdar is active in over 40 countries and has invested, or committed to invest in worldwide projects with a combined value of more than US$30 billion.

Source: Bernama

MASDAR, MIDA inks MOU to develop up to 10GB of RE projects

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The government’s support and the smooth implementation of the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) project are prime examples of Malaysia’s approach to efficiently and expeditiously facilitating investments.

In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the AHTV project is set to transform Tanjong Malim into a global automotive hub for new energy vehicles, and its scope will be broadened to include talent development, research and development, and urbanisation.

The AHTV is a mega project involving a RM32 billion investment, spearheaded by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd and DRB-Hicom Bhd.

Earlier on, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting on the project, which was attended by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Investment, Tade, and Industry Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; and Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.

“After the meeting, I witnessed the signing of the Collaboration Agreement between DRB-HICOM and Geely as a commitment from both parties in making AHTV a success,” he said.

Anwar also witnessed the signing of the main principles of the agreement between Altel and Geespace Technology, Geely’s strategic investment company, which focuses on developing and implementing high-tech systems, catalysing innovative solutions for sectors like smart ports.

Source: Bernama

Govt support, AHTV proof of Malaysia facilitating investments — PM Anwar

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Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to form several task forces to boost cooperation in agriculture, tourism, security, as well as trade and business, including the halal sector, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin at the Prime Minister’s Office today, he said the two of them have set a one-month timeframe for the submission of a report on the task forces’ outcome.

“(We agreed) to set up several task forces and must complete work in one month. One month is for agriculture, tourism, security, trade and business, including the halal sector. Hopefully, it will increase trade and investment.

“We will meet after the report is submitted to PM Srettha and myself. We have many multilateral meetings — one in the (upcoming) Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — and the Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit in mid-December in Tokyo,” Anwar said, following a bilateral meeting with Srettha.

He added both Srettha and himself will compare notes to ensure the task forces are executed effectively.

The Prime Minister also extended Proton-Geely’s plan to set up a plant in Thailand to Srettha and believes it will benefit the company, with Thailand’s vast experience in the automotive industry.

“I asked them (Proton-Geely) to discuss with Srettha, and he has taken an open view on the matter,” Anwar said.

Srettha is on his maiden visit to Malaysia after being sworn in as Thailand’s Prime Minister on September 5.

He is on a five-day working visit to Hong Kong and Asean member countries. The visit began on Sunday (October 8) in Hong Kong, followed by Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia, Thailand to form task forces to boost trade, investment

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Industrial conglomerate DRB-Hicom Bhd and Chinese automobile manufacturer maker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd today signed a master collaboration agreement (MCA) for the development of the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley (AHTV) project in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

The MCA sets out the underlying principles, governance framework and mutual commitment of the AHTV project, including specific roles to be undertaken for development and promotional initiatives.

Signing on behalf of DRB-Hicom was properties and corporate planning and strategy group COO Azri Zaharuddin, while senior vice-president and COO Dr Wei Mei signed on behalf of Geely.

The signing of the MCA brings the collaboration between DRB-Hicom and Geely to the next stage. The latest development follows the signing of a heads of agreement by DRB-Hicom and Geely earlier this year at the Malaysia-China Business Forum in Beijing, DRB-Hicom said in a statement today.

The signing ceremony, held at Proton Tanjong Malim, was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Others present included Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang; Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad; Geely chairman Eric Li; and Proton chairman Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar.

Reflective of the strategic importance of AHTV, Anwar chaired a high-level AHTV Project development meeting prior to the signing of the agreement. The meeting included senior members of the AHTV Project team together with federal and state government officials.

AHTV will attract local and foreign investments, which will propel it to become an international automotive hub for new energy vehicles (NEV). Its focus will not only be on the production of automobiles of various makes, but also in the manufacturing of high-technology components and parts for NEV. This will further expand the capability of local vendors towards specialising in high-technology manufacturing.

Source: The Sun Daily

DRB-Hicom, Geely sign deal to develop automotive hub in Tanjung Malim

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NTT opens its sixth data center in Malaysia.
The data center, located in Cyberjaya, cost US$50 million.
The data center has a critical IT load of 7MW.

NTT has launched a new data center in Cyberjaya. The new facility aligns with the country’s vision for digital growth, which aims to make the country an ‘Asian Digital Tiger’ by 2025.

The data center by NTT Global Data Centers Corporation, valued at US$ 50 million, is the sixth center on NTT’s campus. Called CBJ6, the data center has a critical IT load of 7MW, 4,890m²of space, and two 33kV substations with diverse power reception and advanced cooling wall technology to maintain a stable environment for high-density racks up to 15kW.

The CBJ6 complements the Cyberjaya 5 (CBJ5) Data Center built in 2021. The combined facility boasts 20,000m² of space with a facility load of 22MW. Apart from NTT, Cyberjaya is also home to several other data centers, including some from Bridge Data Centers, AIMS Data Centers, EdgeConneX and Vantage Data Centers.

In April this year, Knight Frank’s Data Centre Research Report MALAYSIA highlights that the Southeast Asia 5 (SEA-5) countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam – have garnered significant interest due to their large populations and untapped potential. The Knight Frank SEA-5 Data Centre Opportunity Index (SEA-5 Index) analyzes key markets within the SEA-5, providing insights into each country’s data center rankings compared to its peers.

The growth of the Malaysian data center industry

In 2022, Malaysia emerged as the leader with an impressive 113 MW of take-up, which is four times greater than the next highest market, Thailand, (which itself had a commendable 25 MW of take-up). This growth can be primarily attributed to the expansion in Johor, while Kuala Lumpur has also consistently reported double-digit take-up figures for the past three years.

Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, CEO of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), believes NTT’s ongoing expansion in Malaysia signifies the company’s trust in Malaysia as a regional data center hub.

“Aligned with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), MIDA will continue to attract strategic high-tech projects that will position Malaysia as a digitally connected nation, characterized by extensive and reliable digital infrastructure. Asia’s rapid growth, amid economic uncertainty in developed economies, has led multinational companies to increase digital investments to support their expanding businesses in the region,” said Datuk Wira.

Malaysia has garnered a strong reputation in the global data center sector, particularly in the Southeast Asia region. Apart from Cyberjaya, Kuala Lumpur and the state of Johor in the south of Malaysia are also popular locations for data centers in the country. Johor in particular is capable of supporting the load needed for data centers that cater to Singapore.

NTT in Malaysia

For NTT, Malaysia remains a key market, particularly in terms of catering to the demands of businesses in the country. NTT data centers have been in Malaysia for almost two decades and continue to grow to support the needs of the country.

Takeshi Kimura, Managing Director of NTT Global Data Centers Holding Asia, said that after enduring the pandemic for several years, global companies are swiftly working to make up for lost time.

“In Southeast Asia, many hyperscalers are keenly interested in establishing a robust IT platform. They recognize that by selecting NTT as their partner—a company with longstanding responsibility for managing networks, submarine cables, and data centers in Asia—they can address many challenges and drive their business effectively,” said Kimura.

Ho Yee Chung, managing director of NTT Global Data Centers Malaysia said the NTT Cyberjaya campus had evolved in sync with Malaysia’s digital growth.

“NTT’s expansion in Cyberjaya demonstrates our consistent capacity expansion in existing and new data center markets. The five Cyberjaya data centers have already empowered hyperscale enterprises, and with this new site, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering reliable infrastructure that can support the demands of our client’s digital transformation ambitions in Southeast Asia. With their demand involving the acceleration of generative AI, our data center capacity (including planned) will soon reach 2,000 MW worldwide,” added Doug Adams, CEO and president of NTT Global Data Centers & Submarine Cable.

Meanwhile, the soon-to-begin submarine cable MIST, constructed by NTT as one of the shareholders, is poised to revolutionize connectivity at the NTT Cyberjaya data center, elevating Malaysia’s global network connectivity and contributing to sustainable socio-economic growth. Spanning 8,100 km, it will seamlessly connect Malaysia, India, Singapore, and Thailand, boasting a 12-fiber pair capacity capable of transmitting over 200 tbps of data.

Source: Techwire Asia

NTT opens its sixth data center in Malaysia

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The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) said it is important to strengthen partnerships within the local manufacturing ecosystem in order to pool resources, share risks and increase adoption rates.

Close collaboration is vital due to the complex and dynamic nature of the future of manufacturing, said Mida deputy chief executive officer (investment development) Lim Bee Vian.

“There are many local companies with capabilities, from serving as contract manufacturers to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), offering a sophisticated ecosystem with world-class research and development, design, and engineering capabilities.

“While we may not be present in every part of the global value chain, we aim to occupy critical segments where we can add value and remain resilient against competitors who rely solely on cost advantages,” she said in her welcoming remarks at a Mida-organised seminar here today (October 10).

The seminar was held to bolster local Machinery and Equipment (M&E) companies’ competitiveness to enhance the supply chain ecosystem for multinational corporations and large local companies.

Lim also highlighted the government’s latest funds amounting to RM235 million to drive automation, digitalisation, and sustainable environmental, social and governance practices, namely the Domestic Investment Accelerator Fund, Foreign Investment Accelerator Fund and Madani Smart Automation Grant.

“With the facilitation by Mida, these funds will empower businesses, especially local small and medium enterprises and mid-tier companies, to innovate, expand and integrate into the technologically evolving global supply chain while actively contributing to our nation’s economic progress,” she added.

The seminar gathered over 160 participants from the private and public sectors, including financial institutions, to provide information on government facilitation programmes for M&E companies and offerinsights into financial institutions’ support for adopting emerging technologies.

Source: Bernama

MIDA: Vital to strengthen partnerships within local manufacturing ecosystem

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given assurances of Malaysia’s commitment to promoting Renewable Energy (RE), as well as facilitating business dealings with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a Facebook post, Anwar said he had expressed the matter during his meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, during a two-day working visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE on October 5 and 6.

He said during the working visit which only lasted for about 36 hours, he also met several senior ministers involved in economic, trade and investment affairs, the UAE sovereign wealth fund’s shareholders, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and some of the largest companies in the UAE.

“In the short visit, Malaysia managed to reap great benefits, especially in terms of investment from the gulf country by generating committed investments amounting to RM40.6 billion (US$8.6 billion) in sectors such as renewable energy, aerospace and logistics.

“InsyaAllah, I am confident that the planning that has been done and drafted is capable of making Malaysia one of the most important hubs for the renewable energy sector,” he said.

Source: Bernama

Anwar: Malaysia committed to promoting Renewable Energy, facilitating business dealings with UAE

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The New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) will complement the Malaysian Aerospace Blueprint 2030 in transforming the country into a global hub for sustainable aerospace manufacturing and services.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the blueprint outlines 41 key initiatives and is expected to generate annual revenue of RM55.2bil and create 32,000 high income jobs by 2030.

The plans aim to position Malaysia as the aerospace hub in South-East Asia, as well as an integral part of the global aerospace supply chain by 2030.

Tengku Zafrul stated that the aerospace industry plays an important role in advancing the missions outlined under the NIMP 2030.

“This is particularly on advancing economic complexity, embracing tech quickly to foster a digitally vibrant nation, as well as pushing towards net zero,” he told reporters after opening the Boeing-National Aerospace Industry Corp Malaysia supply chain forum, yesterday.

Tengku Zafrul said Boeing Airplane and Transport Corp is the right fit for the country.

“Malaysia needs partners like Boeing to share its technology to help make sustainable manufacturing a reality in the country,” Tengku Zafrul added.

He pointed out that sustainable manufacturing technology is synonymous with massive cost savings, quoting Boeing’s initiative for 1,000 3D-printed brackets in the galleys of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

“Boeing’s resource-efficient process decreased the water, material, time and energy consumed while reducing excess industrial waste and lubricants used in standard machining processes,” he noted.Tengku Zafrul said the aerospace company has managed to cut carbon emissions, resources and waste to landfills by between 30% and 39%, and roughly US$3mil in construction cost on each jet built.

“As we are proactively developing our aerospace industry, I hope Boeing is willing to share such technologies with its Malaysian suppliers because globally, our chance to quickly reduce greenhouse gases is fast running out,” he said.

He said Boeing can symbiotically support the development of supply-chain resiliency.

This is also in line with the NIMP 2030’s goals for economic security and inclusivity, with the aim to make suppliers within every manufacturing ecosystem to be more resilient.

“As a policymaker, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry’s role is to also involve other partners, such as academia, in ensuring a robust talent pipeline, which in turn, also supports the industry’s human resource resiliency,” Tengku Zafrul added.

Boeing South-East Asia president Alexander C. Feldman said South-East Asia, especially Malaysia, is likely to be a net winner as the aerospace group grows and diversifies its supply chains.

“In fact, for Boeing, globally, there is no more important issue than supply chain and ensuring resiliency in our suppliers,” he said.

He said even if there is a possibility of an economic downturn, the industry is resilient.

“With demand growing, all it needs is suppliers,” he said.

On a separate note, Tengku Zafrul expressed his hope for more incentives to be allocated in the upcoming Budget 2024 for the aerospace industry.

Source: The Star

Positioning Malaysia as an aerospace hub in South-East Asia

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Nextgreen Global Bhd (NGGB) held a product launching ceremony on Oct 6 in conjunction with the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia 2023 (IGEM).

In a statement last week, NGGB said IGEM was organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) and Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC).

The ceremony showcased NGGB’s new environmentally friendly tissue paper and pulp moulded (food grade) products made from empty fruit bunches (EFB).

The EFB pulp was produced using the breakthrough Preconditioning Refiner Chemical-Recycle Bleached Mechanised Pulp (PRC-RMBP) technology.

NGGB managing director Datuk Lim Thiam Huat said the effective utilisation of EFB as the material for tissue paper and pulp-moulded products aligns with NGGB’s direction to contribute substantially towards a greener global economy by accelerating the national sustainability agenda and the world’s transition to green and sustainable products.

“Notably, our EFB virgin pulp and paper is certified with SIRIM Eco-Labelling Scheme and MyHijau certification by MGTC.

“This evidences our pursuit towards creating a sustainable circular economy. We remain committed towards the transformation of oil palm biomass into various downstream products,” he said.

Source: The Edge Malaysia

Nextgreen Global launches product in conjunction of IGEM 2023

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Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. (Geely) plans to increase its investment in the country, including strengthening Malaysia as a vehicle manufacturing hub for export purposes, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who received a courtesy visit from Geely chairman Li Shufu today, said the meeting is proof that Geely is following through with its committed investment of RM32 billion as announced during his official visit to China in March this year.

Business figure Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz were also present during the meeting.

“The Chinese automobile manufacturer also plans to increase its participation in the field of research and development as well as the provision of local skilled workers, in line with the needs of the industry in the future.

“I am confident that this initiative will be fruitful for our country’s economy,” said Anwar in a post on his Facebook page.

Geely is a global automotive giant and also a strategic partner of Malaysian conglomerate, DRB-HICOM Bhd.

Source: Bernama

Geely to increase investment, strengthen Malaysia as a vehicle manufacturing hub, says Anwar

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Malaysia needs both speed and scale to accelerate sustainable manufacturing practices and proactively develop the country’s aerospace industry, said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

To that end, he said the country needs partners like US jet maker Boeing to share its technology and help make sustainable manufacturing a reality in Malaysia.

Citing Boeing’s 2017 initiative on its 3D-printed brackets for the galleys of its 787 Dreamliners, the minister commended Boeing on its pioneering sustainability initiatives.

“Many still do not know about this, Boeing’s resource-efficient process decreased the water, materials, time and energy consumed while reducing excess industrial waste and lubricants used in standard machining processes.

“I believe Boeing managed to cut carbon emissions, resources and waste to landfills by between 30 to 39 per cent, or roughly US$3 million in construction costs on each jet built,” he said at the opening ceremony of Boeing-Naico Aerospace Supply Chain Forum here today.

Tengku Zafrul noted that sustainable manufacturing technology is also synonymous with massive cost savings. “I hope Boeing is willing to share such technologies with its Malaysian suppliers because globally, our chance to quickly reduce greenhouse gases is fast running out,” he said.

Furthermore, he added that the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) aims to make the suppliers within every manufacturing ecosystem to be more resilient through the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030’s mission on economic security and inclusivity.

He said the aerospace industry also plays an important role in advancing the other missions outlined in the NIMP 2030, particularly on advancing economic complexity, embracing tech quickly to foster a digitally vibrant nation, and pushing for net zero. Tengku Zafrul said an investor like Boeing “ticks all the right boxes” when it comes to realising NIMP 2030 targets.

“The NIMP 2030 complements the Malaysian Aerospace Blueprint 2030 on transforming Malaysia into a global hub for sustainable aerospace manufacturing and services,” he added.

The blueprint outlines 41 key initiatives that are expected to generate an annual revenue of RM55.2 billion and create 32,000 high-income jobs by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) is hoping for more incentives or allocations for the aerospace industry in Malaysia to be included in Budget 2024.

Tengku Zaful said extra incentives would help to support and complement the missions outlined in the NIMP 2030 and the Malaysian Aerospace Blueprint 2030 initiated by the government.

“I hope there is an extra incentive or allocation for the aerospace industry and of course, the request has been made and I hope it has been heard but what is more important is that the policies are there to support the industry and any more incentives will definitely help,” he told reporters at the event.

Budget 2024, to be tabled in parliament on Oct 13, will be the second budget announced by the unity government.

Tengku Zafrul noted that Southeast Asia has been the fastest-growing region in the world for the aerospace industry to date.

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), an agency under Miti, aims to attract RM134 million in investments for the aerospace industry by the end of 2023.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia needs speed, scale to accelerate sustainable manufacturing in aerospace – Tengku Zafrul

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Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg wants the state to produce its own robot to assist humans in their daily activities.

He said the state could take inspiration from ‘Grace the Robot’, the nursing assistant robot, that made its appearance at the 27th World Congress on Innovation and Technology and the 6th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (WCIT|IDECS) 2023 held here, recently.

Abang Johari said the state government was also ready to provide an allocation for the project.

“Perhaps we can use a different name for the robot, something that is more Sarawakian. I was made to understand that Grace the robot has over 4,000 motors in her head alone.

“Maybe for this project, we can ask the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) to work together with Huawei. Perhaps we can produce robots to be used in our healthcare or other tasks and activities,” he said in his speech at the Sarawak Research and Development Council’s (SRDC) 5th anniversary dinner here, tonight (October 10).

Grace is a robot developed through artificial intelligence (AI) technology by Hanson Robotics, which is based in Hong Kong.

Source: Bernama

Abang Jo wants Sarawak to produce own robot

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will take immediate steps to enhance the ease of doing business in the country by expediting approval for projects.

Anwar said this was important as many investors have voiced their concerns with regard to the delay in approvals.

“This is why I have decided to take immediate steps to make the changes, not only to the One Stop Centre at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) but also to the Investment and Trade Coordination Action Committee under MITI, in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Department,” he said.

He said this during the Minister’s Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat today in response to a question from Tam Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) regarding the outcome of the working visits overseas, including in terms of investments, cooperation between countries and the level of foreign investment confidence in Malaysia.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia determined to ensure faster approval for investments, PM Anwar tells Dewan Rakyat

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The clarity of policies, including for the Madani economy, the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), can help in attracting investments and strengthening the value of the ringgit, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the ringgit’s performance this year was largely driven by external factors such as the sharp strengthening of the US dollar that has been driven by higher US interest rates, as well as China’s weaker-than-expected economic conditions.

Therefore, most of the world’s currencies have experienced depreciation for the year 2023, including the ringgit, because of the actions of the US Federal Reserve which raised interest rates, he pointed out.

“The value of the ringgit does not depend on fundamentals such as good (economic) growth, good investment, falling inflation or falling unemployment rates, the falling value of the ringgit is not in line with the economic policies introduced by the government.

“By only strengthening the local economy can we increase the value of the ringgit and we take the approach of not increasing the overnight policy rate (OPR) on consideration of the increase in the value of the US dollar,” Anwar said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Awang Hashim’s (PN-Pendang) about the effectiveness of the government’s measures in dealing with the impact of the ringgit’s dwindling value, which had hit RM4.73 against the US dollar.

The government through Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has also implemented short-term measures to ensure that the ringgit’s adjustment is in order.

Anwar said to deal with the volatility of the foreign exchange market, BNM will continue to manage risks from domestic and external developments, as well as be prepared to use its operational policy instruments to ensure orderly market conditions.

“Several steps were taken by Bank Negara, such as setting exports in ringgit, then in several conferences I discussed with China and Asean in Jakarta, we requested the use of the local currency to trade.

“In fact, China has welcomed it, 20 to 28 per cent of the large investments, actually tens of billions, do not use US dollars but the ringgit, so this (helps) the ringgit, the same with Thailand.

“So far, the countries we have succeeded in convincing to use the local currency are Indonesia, Thailand, and China but not in all areas; if they are involved in international trade commodities, this is one of the suggestions.”

He explained that through the Local Currency Settlement Framework (LCSF) initiative, Malaysia has an LCSF arrangement with Indonesia and Thailand.

He noted that Malaysia was also one of the first countries to sign a currency arrangement agreement with the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) in 2009.

He explained that the agreement further facilitates the use of renminbi and ringgit for trade and investment payment purposes between China and Malaysia and as a measure to reduce the use of dollars in trade activities.

In the meantime, the prime minister admitted that it is difficult to completely stop the use of the US dollar in trade at this time.

“However, Malaysia is more active and aggressive in emphasising the need to use the local currency,” he added.

Source: Bernama

PM: Clarity of government policies helps attract investment, strengthen ringgit

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Malaysia needs to develop its solar energy capabilities to accommodate growing demand for green energy from the data centre industry in the country.

“Malaysia needs to catch up, that is a fact,” NTT Global Data Center Malaysia managing director Ho Yee Chung said during a press conference in conjunction with the launch of its sixth data centre on its campus in Cyberjaya.

According to Ho, the local renewable energy has yet to gain its size to achieve economies of scale enabling cost efficiency.

“But NTT is committed to start, we are happy to adopt it (using renewable energy) and have started. This journey has to move forward.

“Solar is not a new thing to us, because we already started installing solar on our roofs ten years ago. We also just completed our solar roof parking lot,” he added, noting that its campus’ emission savings is equivalent to 165 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

Ho was speaking to the media at the launch of NTT’s Cyberjaya 6 (CBJ6) Sakura data centre — its sixth data centre on its NTT campus — with an investment of RM234 million with a critical IT load of 7MW, 4,890 metres square of space, and two 33 kilovolt substations.

The occupancy of its data centres on campus stands at 70%.

Ho sees green energy demand to pick up over the next 24 months, with more solar farms to be built in line with the government’s target for 25% of the electricity supply to comprise renewable energy.

He noted that NTT Global has inked a Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) with a corporate partner as its eyes emission savings of 3,000 tonnes per annum.

“We are one of the pioneers that joined CGPP and gave our opinion on how the future of data centre technology will be coupled with solar farms, transitioning from using brown to green energy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ho said he is cognisant that another major issue the renewable energy industry is facing is the need to use battery energy storage systems is crucial to tackle the green energy’s intermittent nature — fluctuating output.

He noted that with most of the company’s customers being from the financial services industry (FSI), a core requirement is its data centres avoiding outages.

“We do that for them, the efficiency of a data centre concerns its stability, which requires us to work a lot with the local government and Tenaga Nasional Bhd,” he said.

Source: The Edge Malaysia

Malaysia’s solar energy industry needs to catch up fast in order to meet demand from data centres

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The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir yesterday called on the state government to focus on improving business facilities and attracting quality investments towards generating high-income job opportunities.

His Royal Highness said the contributions of other sectors such as agriculture, especially the agro-food sub-sector should also be boosted as a development agenda that will provide an economic overflow and a source of food supply not only to the people of Negeri Sembilan, but also to the Klang Valley.

Opening the state assembly session here yesterday, Tuanku Muhriz praised the state administration helmed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, which managed to record investments amounting to RM8.9 billion last year, an increase of 53 per cent compared to RM5.8 billion in 2021.

“Gross Domestic Product (GDP) also showed a positive development with a growth rate of 6.4 per cent last year compared to 3.1 per cent the previous year. The biggest contribution to the state’s GDP is from the service sector (51.5 per cent) and manufacturing (38.1 per cent) which is the basis of the goal towards a high-income state,“ Tuanku Muhriz said.

Also attending the opening ceremony was Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud.

Tuanku Muhriz also expressed his gratitude for the state government’s efforts in increasing revenue and managing the state finances with full integrity, which enabled it to collect revenues amounting to RM521.22 million, exceeding last year’s target of RM432 million.

The Ruler said this achievement led to the state moving from a 2022 deficit budget of RM88 million to a surplus of RM31 million.

Meanwhile, His Highness also supported efforts to ensure that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) continued to be strengthened through collaborations between the public and private sectors to ensure that all graduates are trained based on the current needs of local industries.

“Lifelong learning needs to be implemented through skill improvement and reskilling programmes to produce a more skilled and semi-skilled workforce. It is very important to meet current demands,“ the Ruler said.

Tuanku Muhriz said that the provision of conducive infrastructure for industrial areas should continue to be the main agenda and efforts to provide Centralised Labour Quarters (CLQ) should be given attention to ensure that the welfare of the workforce is taken care of.

Tuanku Muhriz said the industrial ecosystem needs to be constantly regulated and improved along with current developments, and also welcomed the state’s aspirations of turning the downstream industry into a sector that supports the main industries, by empowering the role of the private sector and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In addition, His Highness said the provision of infrastructure and access to digital services needs to be continuously improved in line with the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030 and the Negeri Sembilan Digital Economy Plan 2023-2027 (PEDNS 2023-2027).

Tuanku Muhriz also congratulated Aminuddin for obtaining the mandate to once again lead the state government as well as all the newly elected state representatives.

“The spirit of muhibah must continue to be preserved so that this state can progress and become a source of pride for future generations.

“We have seen recently big changes in the political landscape and the government administration. We welcome the consensus reached among party leaders to form a strong and stable government,” His Highness said.

The Negeri Sembilan election held in August saw Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional (BN) working together to successfully form the state government after PH won 17 seats while BN won 14. Perikatan Nasional (PN) could only secure five.

The state assembly sitting continues today.

Source: Bernama

State govt must improve business facilities, attract quality investments – Tuanku Muhriz

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