マレーシア・モーニング・ラップ | ブミアルマダとMISCが沖合取引の合併を評価し、グローバル拡大を見据える

As trade disputes between the US and China catalyze increased investment in Southeast Asia, concerns arise over potential global economic slowdowns and escalated costs, stated Malaysia's Minister of Trade and Investment. In the short-term, companies from the US, Europe, and Asia, previously established in China, are considering relocating their supply chains or establishing new facilities in Southeast Asia, noted Zafrul Aziz during an interview with Bloomberg Television's Lisa Abramovicz in Lima, Peru.

However, Aziz expressed concerns about future implications during his appearance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. "But in the longer term, I think, it is going to be a concern," he remarked, referencing the ongoing US-China rivalry and its significant impact on global trade and investment patterns. "For global economies, we're going to see slower growth. Consumers may end up paying higher prices for the same goods," he added, highlighting the broader economic repercussions of sustained geopolitical tensions.

Malaysia needs to overhaul its economic approach to better integrate growth with social equity, according to veteran economist Dr. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi. He emphasized the necessity for a structural transformation in the nation's production factors—specifically labor, land, and capital—to drive sustainable economic development and enhance income distribution. Nungsari, serving as the chairman of the Khazanah Research Institute and a member of the Policy Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister, highlighted the importance of redirecting economic policy to promote investments in high-growth, high-risk sectors. This strategy, he noted, is crucial for addressing the long-standing issues of income inequality in Malaysia.