Kedah’s harmony, stability draw in investors, says Sanusi

Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor expressed hope that Kedahans would not have to leave the state for good job opportunities.

SHAH ALAM: Kedah’s harmony and stability are the two main reasons the business community is investing in the state, says Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor.

Sanusi, who has served as the state’s menteri besar since 2020, said he had a vision of a “greater Kedah” which would be able to compete economically with developed states such as Selangor.

With Kedah enjoying strong economic growth, he expressed hope that Kedahans would no longer have to leave the state for good job opportunities.

“Investors are coming into Kedah due to the harmony and stability it offers, and I am sure this will continue,” he told reporters after a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house for Kedahans here.

Perikatan Nasional holds a two-thirds majority in the Kedah state legislative assembly with 33 out of the 36 seats.

Last November, Sanusi said Kedah recorded RM14.6 billion in approved investments in the first half of 2023 – making Kedah the third largest investment destination in the country after Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

He told the state legislative assembly that RM11.88 billion of the amount was foreign direct investment (FDI) while the remaining RM2.69 billion was domestic investment.

In a New Straits Times report, he said Japan was Kedah’s largest investor during the period with RM7.38 billion, followed by China (RM4.16 billion), Singapore (RM149.5 million), Hong Kong (RM104 million) and the Netherlands (RM61.28 million).

At today’s open house, Sanusi also urged the federal government to respect the principle of federalism in developing the country, emphasising that it was a collective effort between the federal and state governments to develop all states in the country.

“Despite the political differences, when it comes to managing states, I believe we have to be professional and act according to the principle of federalism,” he said.

“This has to be embraced by every politician, including those in Kuala Lumpur.”