Malaysia Sees 18.7% Surge in Approved Investments for H1 2025

Kuala Lumpur has reported a strong performance in approved investments for the first half of 2025, reaching a total of 190.3 billion ringgit (approximately $44.98 billion). This marks an impressive increase of 18.7 percent compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) on Friday.

Investment Breakdown Highlights Growth Across Sectors

During this period, 3,011 projects spanning the manufacturing, services, and primary sectors are anticipated to create 89,294 new jobs. Notably, foreign investments comprised a substantial 56.1 percent of total approved investments, amounting to 106.8 billion ringgit, while domestic contributions made up 43.9 percent, equating to 83.5 billion ringgit.

Foreign investments experienced a remarkable growth of 43.5 percent year-on-year, with Singapore leading as the primary source country, contributing 43.4 billion ringgit to the total.

The services sector particularly stood out, accounting for 118.6 billion ringgit of the total approved investments, which represents a significant 25.6 percent increase from the previous year. The manufacturing sector also reported growth, with approved investments totaling 68.4 billion ringgit, reflecting a 13.8 percent rise year-on-year.

Government Officials Emphasize Investor Confidence

Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), attributed this growth to the confidence of both foreign and domestic investors in Malaysia’s stable policies and long-term industrial reform agenda. He stated, “Malaysia’s 18.7 percent year-on-year growth in approved investments for the first half demonstrates foreign and domestic investors’ continued trust in our clear policies and long-term industrial reform agenda.”

He added that these factors have significantly contributed to Malaysia’s robust economic fundamentals, which have maintained resilience even in a challenging global environment. This ongoing investment growth is seen as a positive indicator of Malaysia’s economic outlook moving forward.