{
  "id": 11679325,
  "title": "Tengku Zafrul: Malaysia has shifted from efficiency to resilience amid global uncertainty",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/tengku-zafrul-malaysia-has-shifted-from-efficiency-to-resilience-amid",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-03T11:23:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1546915/tengku-zafrul-malaysia-has-shifted-efficiency-resilience-amid-global"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia has transitioned its economic focus from efficiency to resilience in response to global uncertainty, according to Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Zafrul emphasized that economic leadership requires preparing Malaysia to seize opportunities while maintaining resilience against unforeseen shocks. He highlighted the strength of Malaysia's public finances, which have been bolstered through key fiscal reforms such as fuel subsidy rationalisation and the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Zafrul underscored the need for a balance between economic reform and compassion, advocating for measures to safeguard the vulnerable while simultaneously building national capacity. He called for proactive efforts to increase incomes by aligning wages with productivity, generating higher-paying jobs, and fostering entrepreneurship. Zafrul noted that shifting trade routes and advancements in artificial intelligence are simultaneously empowering and disrupting the workforce, necessitating a focus on translating Malaysia's young population into higher productivity, innovation, high-value jobs, and new businesses. He stressed that the influx of record investment into the region and Malaysia should result in higher-income jobs, skilled young engineers, and small and medium-sized enterprises integrated into global supply chains. Zafrul concluded by urging that capital should be directed towards strengthening firms, and technology towards enhancing skills.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s economic focus has shifted from pursuing efficiency to building greater resilience as the country continues to outperform growth forecasts despite global uncertainty.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Malaysia aims for economic resilience over efficiency amid global uncertainties, says Tengku Zafrul",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/malaysia-aims-for-economic-resilience-over-efficiency-amid-global",
        "published": "2026-10-03T12:11:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}