Malaysia eyes balanced, comprehensive economic growth

Minister of Finance II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said at the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) on August 21 that through collaboration with various parties and special incentive packages, Malaysia aims to attract investments in the electrical and electronics industries, natural resources, trade and cargo, and downstream rubber-based industries.

Minister of Finance II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. (Photo: Bernama)
Minister of Finance II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. (Photo: Bernama)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia has intensified efforts to attract investments to special economic zone development areas to bridge the gap between regions throughout the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) period, Bernama reported.

Minister of Finance II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said at the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) on August 21 that through collaboration with various parties and special incentive packages, Malaysia aims to attract investments in the electrical and electronics industries, natural resources, trade and cargo, and downstream rubber-based industries.

The location of Kedah and Perlis bordering Thailand will enhance the role of the states in the North of the peninsula as regional connectivity hubs and with the Perlis Inland Port, as well as easier movement of cargo and resources, Malaysia has the advantage of being a catalyst for development at the sub-regional level.

The operation of the East Coast Rail Line, which is expected to begin in the early period of the 13MP, opens up great opportunities for residents along this line to create new economic activities, especially based on agriculture, food production and the halal industry.

He said a detailed blueprint for the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is being drawn up. The JS-SEZ has successfully attracted investment commitments totalling 1.34 billion RM (320 million USD), with an additional investment interest of 78 million RM still in the negotiation phase, involving 70 companies from Singapore, China, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands as well as local investors./.

VNA

See more

Malaysia busts massive drug syndicate

Malaysia busts massive drug syndicate

An international drug syndicate was busted after Malaysian police seized over 18 tonnes of drugs worth nearly 375 million USD in one of the country’s biggest drug busts on record.

Indonesia will not import rice for either consumption or industrial use next year. (Photo: tempo.co)

Indonesia to stop rice imports next year

Indonesia's rice production in 2025 is projected to reach 34.77 million tonnes, up 13.54% year on year, driven by favourable weather and farmer support policies under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.

Distinctive festivals across Indonesia attract international visitors. (Photo published by VNA)

Indonesia identifies 15 priority tourism markets for 2025–2026

According to data compiled by the Ministry of Tourism, the number of tourists from Malaysia reached 2.18 million in the January-October 2025 period, showing a growth of 15.91% compared to last year. Meanwhile, the number of visitors from Singapore totaled 1.19 million this year, growing by 7.66% from 2024.

The 8th Cooperative Plan Meeting between the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, December 17, Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: nationalthailan.com)

Thailand, Laos aim to boost bilateral trade

Laos is Thailand’s 7th largest trading partner in ASEAN and 18th globally. From January to October 2025, two-way trade grew by 18.65% to 8.18 billion USD, with Thai exports increasing by 16.90% to 4.81 billion USD and imports rising by 21.23% to 3.60 billion USD.

File photo of Visa and Mastercard credit cards. (Photo: AP)

Unpaid credit card balances in Singapore hit record high in 10 years

Experts attributed the worrying trend to factors like people not spending within their means, consumer culture emphasising prestige items, and easier access to credit like “buy now, pay later” services. Analysts said this can be a hint of growing financial pressures faced by Singaporeans amid rising prices.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Photo: Bernama)

Malaysia accelerates clean energy transition

Delivering a speech at the Clean Energy Transition Asia (CETA) Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said that the Southeast Asian region now drives more than half of the global energy demand.

Indonesian localities extend state of emergency amid natural disasters

Indonesian localities extend state of emergency amid natural disasters

As disaster-related losses continue to rise, authorities in the affected provinces have decided to extend the state of emergency to ensure resources and legal mechanisms for response efforts. West Sumatra extended it to December 22, North Sumatra to December 24, and Aceh to December 25.