Malaysia’s Progress Must Be Anchored in Domestic Economic Resilience, Says PM Anwar
Kuala Lumpur, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has underscored the importance of internal strength and domestic economic resilience as key pillars for Malaysia’s progress amid ongoing global uncertainties and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Speaking at the launch and submission ceremony of the East Coast Rail Link Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL) offer letters for the operations and maintenance phase, Anwar emphasized that Malaysia must reduce reliance on external factors and build a robust internal economic foundation.
“In my recent address to Parliament, I explained the challenges we are facing, including the imposition of tariffs by the United States on many countries, Malaysia included. I stressed the importance of adopting a moderate yet firm stance and rejecting any form of unilateral action,” said the Prime Minister.
“If Malaysia wants to move forward with confidence, we must not rely solely on external support. We must build internal strength — what we call domestic economic resilience. That is what we must work on,” he added.
Anwar also stressed the need for continuous innovation and adaptability, stating, “Whatever challenges there may be, even if we adopt foreign technologies in the early stages, the country must always seek out new methods.”
He pointed to the youth as the key drivers of Malaysia’s future, urging them to master new technologies and exceed the achievements of the current generation. “With this approach, God willing, our future will be more secure. The country must remain peaceful, stable, and governed by clear policies,” he said.
Citing examples of ongoing global engagements, Anwar shared updates from high-level meetings with leaders and corporations from the United States, Japan, and Bahrain. He highlighted discussions with U.S.-based semiconductor giant Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), which is considering expanding its operations in Malaysia.
“In the semiconductor sector, we are not being left behind. However, our current capabilities are mostly focused on backend processes. Now, AMD has expressed its intention to establish Malaysia — particularly Penang and Cyberjaya — as a base for advanced packaging and design,” Anwar revealed.
The Prime Minister welcomed AMD’s plans and affirmed the government’s commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure and support to expedite the company’s transition into advanced front-end capabilities.
“Our youth must master cutting-edge technologies, stay updated with global trends, and excel in artificial intelligence to meet the demands of the advanced semiconductor sector,” he said.
Anwar also recounted recent engagements with Japan’s former prime minister Fumio Kishida, who represented Tokyo in discussions on renewable energy collaboration with ASEAN and Malaysia. “Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to directly participate in development projects, especially in the renewable energy sector,” Anwar noted.
Further, the Prime Minister shared that he had met with two Bahraini ministers to explore investment opportunities and ways to boost economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Looking ahead, Anwar announced that Malaysia will host the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit at the end of the month, bringing together leaders from all ASEAN member states and six Gulf nations.
“This signifies the importance of discipline, a constructive outlook, and the readiness to seize opportunities grounded in education and confidence. This is what we define as economic resilience — our ability to endure and adapt,” he concluded.
