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Anwar-Azmin infighting: Investors opting for Vietnam over Malaysia?

Anwar-Azmin infighting: Investors opting for Vietnam over Malaysia?

PUCHONG: Foreign investors may opt for Vietnam over Malaysia due to the political uncertainty created from PKR’s internal infighting involving its top two leaders: president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and deputy, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali over the Prime Minister position, claimed Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof.

According to the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) supreme council member, several investors have personally expressed concern to him over the issue, with one saying he might invest in Vietnam instead.

“I have investors asking ‘Hey, Redzuan, what is happening in Malaysia?’ Somebody even said, ‘If this is what’s happening in this country, we’ll move to Vietnam’.

“I am not trying to scare anyone but there are investors (who are) thinking about this. They are not shutting off Malaysia completely but they are waiting at the door.

“They are adopting the ‘wait and see’ approach. This is why you see today that although there are some investment proposals reported, they haven’t been realised. Approved but not realised,” he said in an interview with the New Straits Times recently.

Speculation has been rife that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad preferred Azmin, who is also Economic Affairs Minister, over Anwar despite an agreement to handover power to the latter.

Mahathir has repeatedly given his assurance that he would hand over to Anwar.

Opposition parties, Umno and PAS, have declared their support for Dr Mahathir to remain as the premier for a full term. And Azmin had joined the bandwagon.

Redzuan also took Anwar to task for rushing for the top post.

Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof

“Why the rush? When we took over, we saw all the weaknesses that need to be improved and he (Anwar) saw this too.

“Is the Prime Minister supposed to just do his work halfway and pass the rest to his successor who is not even a Cabinet member at the moment?

“When Dr Mahathir is ready, he will hand over the reins to Anwar. Firstly, we need to stabilise the country by empowering the B40 and the Bumiputera.

“If the Bumiputera are not stable, the country will be unstable, too, and as a result, investors will run away from Malaysia,” he added.

This is the second time Redzuan waded into this controversy. He also added that in the event the infighting continued, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was the most qualified candidate to take over.

“It’s already resolved that Dr Mahathir will hand over the seat to Anwar, so why is Anwar busy trying to unseat Dr Mahathir?

“Give Dr Mahathir a chance to fix the country so that when Anwar takes over, it will be easier for him to carry out his duties.

“In my opinion, if this infighting continues, the most eligible candidate who can take over the premiership is Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,” he said.


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Anwar - Azmin feudinvestor confidence