Zafrul said Malaysia is no.1 in Southeast Asia; netizens remain sceptical

 

AMID A volatile global backdrop marked by geopolitical tensions, uneven recoveries and persistent inflationary pressures, Malaysia has demonstrated a notable degree of economic resilience.

Our nation often outpaced or held firmer ground than several of our regional peers, including Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the broader ASEAN bloc.

This resilience is not accidental. It reflects a combination of diversified economic structure, prudent fiscal management, and adaptive policymaking that has helped cushion external shocks while sustaining domestic momentum.

Tengku Zafrul, the former Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry highlighted this in a recent video, adding that Malaysia now occupies the number one spot in southeast Asia.

In the video post, he further pointed out that Malaysia is now the 23th in the world, based on the Milken’s Institute’s 2026 Global Opportunity Index (GOI).

It ranks 17th in Financial Services and 18th in Business Perception globally.

“Investors are looking for stability, a consistent base, and a system that can be trusted,” said Zafrul, adding that it is vital to maintain the confidence of investors.

But looking at the comment section, it appears he will need to get some confidence from the online community too. 

“Everything can be said as data, but what about the transparency of the data?” wondered @Md_Sobrie while @kthulhukult claimed that Malaysia has the highest debt compared to the other nations in Asia.

Another netizen pointed out that the Milken’s Institute was founded by a Zionist philanthropist by the name of Michael Milken.

“But the people’s basic salary is still low. What is the point?” said @cheongst3rz.

Defending Zafrul was @fareha_mutalib who said these investors make decisions based on facts, not comments from the opposition.

On another note, the Milken’s Institute states that Vietnam ranks second in the region and 39th globally, while Indonesia, the region’s largest economy, has made significant gains in Financial Services, rising from 78th place globally in 2022 to 38th place, driven by expanded financial access.

While not included in the group due to its status as a developed economy, Singapore consistently ranks among the top 20 most attractive countries to investors on the GOI, placing 7th in this year’s ranking. — Focus Malaysia