PEMUDAH: Government Projects Will Boost the Economy

The Star, 1 March, 2008.

PUTRAJAYA: The country's economy is expected to continue growing this year and will gain if the planned projects of the Government run on schedule, said Pemudah co-chairman Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon.

Yong, who is also Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president, is confident that the country would not be heavily affected by the United States downturn due to its increase in trade with Asean and the rest of Asia.

“Our trade with the US is still about 17% but with our moving away from that market, it would be one factor to help us,” he said.

Another Pemudah member and Westports executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam also echoed similar sentiments, saying that the country would not be severely affected with the US economic downturn.

He said the country's trade was still doing very well with a very strong GDP.

“To me, we have the right Chief Secretary of the Government and the right bunch of civil servants. It is heartening to see so many things improving. This will make our country more competitive and attract more investors to the country,” he said.

Another Pemudah member Datuk Nicholas S. Zeffreys said that despite Malaysia being a small country, it stood out in terms of economy, GDP, growth in trade, standard of living and even per capita income.

“Malaysia is a standout by most in any measure within Asean. I think the economy today is stronger and getting stronger and that is because of the efforts of this administration and organisations like Pemudah to make that happen,” said Nicholas, who also the past president of American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (Amcham).