Malaysia open to China, US investments without restrictions: PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will continue to welcome investment from China and other countries despite concerns raised by the United States over competition in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor investments.
Malaysia remains open to investment from China and other nations, despite US concerns over competition in AI and semiconductor technologies, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stated. Following discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Anwar emphasized that his government would not interfere in the investment choices of individual countries.
He assured that Malaysia would provide opportunities for American investors, including in AI and chips, without restricting those from China or other countries. Anwar cited Google's $15 billion investment as an example, which he said would be accelerated over the next two years. However, he reiterated that prospective investors must comply with Malaysian requirements, such as providing water supply, training and university facilities.
The same conditions apply to rare earth investments, with Malaysia remaining open to participation from any country. Investors must process minerals domestically, adhere to local regulations and ensure the materials are not used to manufacture weapons that could threaten national security. Bilateral trade between Malaysia and the US increased by 25.7% to RM235.19 billion in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
