“POTENTIAL investment” has become a despicable economic term overnight in Malaysia after Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz incurred the wrath of Malaysians for claiming RM4 bil in “potential investments” are coming Malaysia’s way from France.
This comes a day after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim literally got grilled ‘left, right and centre’ after being accused of trying to deceive man-on-the-street Malaysians by unveiling RM8.13 bil in “potential investments” from Italy as fruits from his week-long three- nation tour.
Certainly, the PKR-bound technocrat Tengku Zafrul should have better anticipated the backlash before volunteering to be the Madani spokesman for “potential investments” is now perceived as belittling the intellect of Malaysians after it has become synonymous with PMX’s overseas trips.
Bluntly put it, wised up Malaysian who are today very much internet-savvy are increasingly perceiving “potential investments” as a self-glorifying gimmick for the ultimate outcome could be extremely far-fetched from “approved, actual or realised” investments.
“Only if my boss allowed me to use the same term ‘potential’ in monthly sales meeting” is one hell of a reaction that encapsulates ground sentiment as every action of PMX and his Madani government goes under the microscope of Malaysians.
The above thought emerged the most liked comment in The Star’s Facebook post of Tengku Zafrul who claimed that several French companies have expressed their intention to invest a cumulative value of RM4 bil in sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, aerospace, renewable energy, tourism and hospitality, digital economy and sustainable infrastructure.
“As for potential exports, RM675 mil was generated for high-impact sectors such as aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, digital economy, lifestyle and the halal industry,” the former UMNO supreme council member had said in a statement yesterday (July 6).
To paint the degree of frustration/betrayal at the Madani government for dishing out a slew of new taxes that only aggravate the cost of living of B40 and M40 Malaysians, another commenter cited the famous quote of US first president Abraham Lincoln: “You cannot fool all the people all the time”.
Few commenters harped on the disparity between outflow and inflow of investments given French President Emmanuel Macron had on Friday (July 4) revealed a historic deal between Airbus and Malaysia as he hosted PMX in Paris.
This was followed by a Bloomberg report that AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines sealed Airbus SE deals worth US$20 bil (RM84.45 bil) as PMX wrapped up his European tour to head to Rio de Janeiro to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
AirAsia reached a tentative agreement to purchase as many as 70 extended-range Airbus single-aisle jets that could reach US$12.3 bil.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines Bhd ordered 20 more A330neo wide-body planes in a deal worth US$7.5 bil, according to Bloomberg calculations before industry discounts are applied. – July 7, 2025
