New MITI Leadership Charts Malaysia's Path Towards Outcome-Driven Investment Growth

 

 

Minister Johari and Deputy Minister Sim Emphasis Execution in First MIDA Visit
 
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- Shortly after their appointments, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Deputy Minister YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin made their inaugural visit to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur Sentral recently, underscoring the new leadership's emphasis on execution and delivery.
 
The visit focused on strengthening investment delivery through data-driven decision- making, and tangible economic outcomes that benefit the rakyat.
 
From Approvals to Impact
 
The leadership of YB Datuk Seri Johari and YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin brings together corporate experience and execution capability in advancing Malaysia’s investment agenda.
 
YB Datuk Seri Johari, armed with more than 25 years of experience navigating corporate restructurings, including during the 1997-98 financial crisis, champions investor-friendly policies grounded in business realities. YB Tuan Sim, a civil engineer from San Jose State University, brings technical discipline and implementation rigour to policy execution.
 
"MIDA is central to Malaysia's future investment and industrial strategy," YB Datuk Seri Johari said. "We must move beyond headline investment approvals towards an outcome-focused approach that delivers tangible economic impact, including job creation, contributions to national income, exports, localisation, and supply-chain spillovers. This approach reinforces the importance of measuring investment success through real economic outcomes."
 
Converting Pipeline to Reality
 
The visit focused on actionable priorities to accelerate the conversion of MIDA's investment pipeline into realised investments, with emphasis on the following:
 
1. Outcome-Based Incentives
Malaysia's New Investment Incentive Framework (NIIF) will tie tax benefits to actual achievement, with incentives realised only upon the delivery of commitments, ensuring accountability and maximising returns to the nation.

 

2. Data-Driven Decision Making
MIDA will enhance data reporting to track key indicators, including foreign versus domestic investments, approved versus implemented projects, employment impact, exports, and economic spillovers, enabling more informed policymaking and better allocation of national resources.
 
3. Ecosystem Building
Strengthening linkages between anchor investors and local SMEs will deepen supply-chain integration, facilitate technology transfer and build domestic capabilities.
 
4. Streamlined Execution
Efforts to streamline approval and facilitation processes will continue for strategic sectors such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, AI, and advanced manufacturing, aligned with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 to support investment promotion.
 
Backing MIDA's Transformation
 
The leadership expressed strong support for MIDA's ongoing transformation, particularly the One-Stop Portal (OSP), which aimed at improving coordination across government stakeholders. The OSP is expected to provide investors with a clearer and more predictable facilitation experience.
 
The leadership also called for closer engagement with State Governments through targeted roadshows and outreach to ensure consistent implementation of investment policies on the ground.
 
A Leadership Built for Geopolitical Shifts
 
YM Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, in welcoming YB Datuk Seri Johari Ghani, said, “MIDA’s alignment with the new MITI Ministerial leadership gives Malaysia the momentum we need to turn ambition into impact. With clear direction and a shared commitment to execution, MIDA will help ensure every realised investment strengthens our people, our industries, and our future. The world is shifting fast — and MIDA is ready to rise to the moment to support Malaysia’s investment and economic ambitions.
 
MIDA Chief Executive Officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim welcomed the alignment: "The combined corporate insight and technical expertise of Datuk Seri Johari and YB Tuan Sim together with YM Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s experience in championing high-impact investment frameworks, will strengthen our momentum into 2026 and beyond. Through close coordination between MITI and MIDA, Malaysia is well- positioned to further enhance its standing as a destination for both global and domestic investors."

Looking Ahead
 
As global supply chains continue to evolve and Southeast Asia emerges as a key manufacturing and services hub, Malaysia is positioning itself to remain competitive and reliable.
 
The partnership between YB Datuk Seri Johari and YB Tuan Sim reflects a shared commitment to execution and practical policy-making, as Malaysia leverages its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 heading into 2026.
 
For investors, the message is clear: Malaysia remains focused on delivery, outcomes, and long-term value creation.

About MIDA
 
MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 21 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.
 
SOURCE: Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Puan Fatmah Ahmad
Corporate Communications Division, MIDA
Tel: 03-22632428
Email: fatmah@mida.gov.my 

--BERNAMA