FUND A SIGNAL TO WORLD OF MALAYSIA's COMPETITIVENESS AS INVESTMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The move to establish a RM1.5 billion (US420.4 million) investment fund to drive investments in the private sector and other market friendly liberalisation moves taken by the government is a clear signal to the world that Malaysia is an ideal location for continued foreign investments.

The fund is sufficient for next year but if there is a need it will be
increased, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak during a special interview
with national broadcasting station, Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) this
evening.

He was interviewed by RTM presenter Sayed Munawar Sayed Mustar and others
in
the panel were Director General of the Institute of Strategic and International
Studies (ISIS) Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin and Assistant Editor of private
television station (TV3) Gan Ai Leng.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister said the measures announced by him
yesterday were intended to boost the confidence of foreign investors of the
opportunities available for investment.

He said the additional packages or customised incentives had to be offered
to attract investments into the industries that will provide high impact to the
country's economy in terms of investment value, technology, and knowledge
workers.

"If we do not do anything, they (foreign investors) will invest in other
countries, and whenever they come to us, they want to know what Malaysia can
offer and they are not modest about informing us about they have been offered by
other countries," he said.

He said investments in the high impact areas was important to provide jobs
to more than 100,000 graduates who enter the job market every year.