Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has taken a jab at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s foreign engagements, sarcastically referring to him as “Bapa FDI” (Father of FDI), suggesting that the touted investments from abroad remain unseen on the ground.
Through a brief but pointed blog post dated July 4, Dr Mahathir questioned the tangible outcomes of recent investment announcements, particularly following Anwar’s overseas trips. Highlighting the latest news of an RM8.13 billion investment from Italy, Mahathir implied that while the numbers are impressive, the actual presence of these investments is questionable.
In his usual dry tone, the veteran statesman remarked that such foreign direct investments seem to result in “invisible factories”, alluding to the lack of visible infrastructure or operational projects linked to the massive figures being shared by the government.
He went on to contrast the burden carried by regular Malaysians, using the term “Mahakaya” to describe the tax-paying wealthy, and “Mahamiskin” to refer to the struggling poor. According to him, despite promises of economic upliftment, the lower-income group continues to bear the indirect cost of policies that fail to materialize on the ground.
Without naming Anwar directly, Mahathir’s post reflects ongoing skepticism toward the current administration’s economic diplomacy approach, suggesting that frequent overseas tours do not equate to real economic gains unless outcomes are verifiable and benefit the rakyat.
This is not the first time the two-time prime minister has expressed doubts over the effectiveness of the government’s strategies. As Malaysia continues to court investors, pressure grows for the government to translate these investment pledges into job creation, infrastructure development, and economic relief for ordinary citizens.
As the debate intensifies, Malaysians remain watchful — seeking more than figures, and hoping instead for investments that can be seen, felt, and measured in their daily lives.
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