Daim calls for graft-free government to attract investors
March 28, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 Tun Daim Zainuddin has asserted that Malaysias only hope to survive as a viable investment destination in the face of increasing rivalry from its neighbours is to ensure a corrupt-free and transparent administration.The former finance minister said in an interview published today that investors were more concerned about the existence of a fair legal system and good infrastructure than they were about the cost of investing in Malaysia.A good investment climate is the result of joint support from all parties. Good governance one that is free from corruption transparency and certainty are what investors are looking for.In fact, to attract investors, cost is not the barrier, but the certainty, a fair legal system and good infrastructure, he said in a two-hour interview with Utusan Malaysia.Daim (picture), however, dodged a question on whether he believed the country would be able to achieve its six per cent annual growth target consistently until 2020 and chose instead to admit that the present economic environment posed many challenges to the country.But challenges also bring opportunities. We must be smart in finding our niche; one that may help provide opportunities for economic development.Malaysia must be prepared to move fast, seek opportunities and, at the same time, make full use of our existing advantages, he said.Malaysia registered 7.2 per cent economic growth last year, the highest since 2000 following a recovery in the manufacturing and services sectors as well as brisk exports and imports.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had expressed confidence in Malaysias ability to repeat this strong performance this year despite the rise of uncertain external challenges.The growth forecast for this year is between 5.5 and 6.0 per cent.This, he was reported as saying, was due to increased confidence in initiatives underlined in his Economi! c Transf ormation Programme (ETP).MORE TO COME
KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 Tun Daim Zainuddin has asserted that Malaysias only hope to survive as a viable investment destination in the face of increasing rivalry from its neighbours is to ensure a corrupt-free and transparent administration.The former finance minister said in an interview published today that investors were more concerned about the existence of a fair legal system and good infrastructure than they were about the cost of investing in Malaysia.A good investment climate is the result of joint support from all parties. Good governance one that is free from corruption transparency and certainty are what investors are looking for.In fact, to attract investors, cost is not the barrier, but the certainty, a fair legal system and good infrastructure, he said in a two-hour interview with Utusan Malaysia.Daim (picture), however, dodged a question on whether he believed the country would be able to achieve its six per cent annual growth target consistently until 2020 and chose instead to admit that the present economic environment posed many challenges to the country.But challenges also bring opportunities. We must be smart in finding our niche; one that may help provide opportunities for economic development.Malaysia must be prepared to move fast, seek opportunities and, at the same time, make full use of our existing advantages, he said.Malaysia registered 7.2 per cent economic growth last year, the highest since 2000 following a recovery in the manufacturing and services sectors as well as brisk exports and imports.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had expressed confidence in Malaysias ability to repeat this strong performance this year despite the rise of uncertain external challenges.The growth forecast for this year is between 5.5 and 6.0 per cent.This, he was reported as saying, was due to increased confidence in initiatives underlined in his Economi! c Transf ormation Programme (ETP).MORE TO COME 
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