MGA holds 4th Virtual Industry Talk on COVID-19: Tackling the Pandemic and Its Impact to Investment

Held on 11th November 2020, MGA’s 4th Industry Talk was attended by MGA members from over 30 organisations. The virtual talk or webinar discussed the topic on COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact to Investment. The session that lasted about one hour also provided the audiences with opportunity to participate in the Q&A.

The event introduced by Nabilah Zulkefli from MGA, started with an Opening Remarks from Hazli Sham Kassim, President of MGA. This is then followed by the first speaker, Dr. Badrul Hisham Abdul Samad, Public Health Physician, National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) who spoke on how the
Malaysian government is tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The second speaker, Ahmad Khairuddin Abdul Rahim, DCEO II, Manufacturing & Services Development of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) spoke on attracting investment in challenging times.

Dr Badrul Hisham from UPNM gave his perspective on how the Malaysian Government is tackling the pandemic;

• The Malaysian Government enforced a Movement Control Order (MCO) starting from 18th March 2020 to break the chain of COVID-19.
• Ministry of Health (MoH) working closely with relevant agencies to screen international passengers at its gateway airports across the country
• Providing sufficient and up-to-date information to the public through the Official Portal of MoH and Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).
• Awareness programmes on necessary protective and hygiene measures
• MySejahtera application
• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the front-liners who directly involved with COVID-19 patients.

Mr Ahmad Khairuddin from MIDA concluded that;

• The RM35 billion stimulus package’s announcement called The National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) is aimed at helping businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19.
• In 2021 budget, there are a few investment or tax incentives proposed to specific sectors in Malaysia. The review of tax incentive for each sector relocating their operations to Malaysia and undertaking new investments
• MIDA is also focusing on the services sector targeting quality investments that are high valueadded, strong linkages, skills-intensive, high-income jobs etc.
• Malaysia also has strong economic fundamentals, strategic location and international standing to attract local and foreign investors.