Robust investments in Selangor continue under PR government
By Neville Spykerman
SHAH ALAM, Feb 25 — The Selangor government said today the state received RM6.76 billion of investments in 2009, creating more than 20,000 jobs.
In disclosing this today, state executive councillor for investments, trade and industry Teresa Kok said the latest statistics proved that investments into the state had not declined since Pakatan Rakyat (PR) took over the state administration almost two years ago.
Kok said the data from the Malaysia Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) shows that Selangor’s RM6.76 billion in approved industrial investment far exceeded the RM4 billion target set by the state government due to the global economic downturn.
Selangor’s 278 approved industrial projects is the highest in the country, followed by Johor with 150 projects and Penang with 104 projects.
Kok said 182 out of the 278 industrial projects approved in Selangor were new projects while the other 96 were expansion projects.
She added that the 20,753 jobs created in the state were also the highest in the country last year.
She said RM4,007,064,182 or 59.2% of Selangor’s investment came from foreign investors while domestic investors accounted for RM2,752,526,769 or 40.8%.
“This shows that domestic investment remains important and domestic investors are continuing to invest under the current PR government.”
She pointed out that Selangor was only second to Sarawak which achieved RM8.451 billion in investments due mainly to a single aluminum smelting project in Bintulu worth about RM7 billion.
“Selangor remain a choice destination for investors,” she said adding that despite the downturn, Selangor’s economy was still robust.
