Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says Google’s RM61 billion investment demonstrates foreign confidence in Malaysia’s political stability, clear economic framework, and disciplined workforce.
PETALING JAYA: Google’s decision to invest RM61 billion in Malaysia reflects international confidence in the country’s political stability, clear economic policies and disciplined workforce, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking at the Majlis Anugerah Tangan Emas Perdana Menteri at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) today, he said Google’s president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat had informed him that Malaysia was selected after the company assessed potential investment destinations in several countries, including those in Asean.
Anwar said he had maintained direct communication with Porat, including through WhatsApp, encouraging her to provide honest feedback on Malaysia’s strengths and weaknesses without adhering to formal protocols.
“She said she chose Malaysia because the country is politically stable. There is no chaos. There may be some complaints here and there, particularly during elections, but that is normal and not a problem,” he said.
He said Porat had also highlighted the importance of political continuity, noting that frequent changes in government and leadership could create uncertainty among investors over the direction of national policies.
Anwar said Malaysia’s clear economic policies, including its Industrial Master Plan, had also helped strengthen investor confidence by providing certainty for companies planning investments in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI).
He also credited the commitment of ministry secretaries-general, department heads and state secretaries in ensuring that government programmes and policies were implemented efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
Describing Google’s RM61 billion investment as a major boost for the country, Anwar said Porat had also expressed confidence in Malaysia’s workforce, describing its employees as disciplined, hardworking and well-qualified.
“She said she was very proud of the workforce, describing them as very well-disciplined, hardworking and qualified. But when I asked what else was needed, she said they required further upskilling and training to enhance their level of specialisation and expertise,” he said.
Anwar said the feedback highlighted the need for universities and higher education institutions to continuously improve their training programmes while ensuring lecturers and professors remained responsive to changing industry demands.
He added that Google was expected to require tens of thousands of additional workers, creating significant employment opportunities for Malaysians.
“How else can the government help our children secure jobs? We need to attract investments. Without investments coming in, we simply cannot create jobs for tens of thousands of people on our own,” he said.
Anwar said the investment would therefore play an important role in strengthening Malaysia’s economy while expanding employment opportunities for the local workforce.
