KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 9): Details of the new investment incentive scorecard, aimed to ensure investments that bring broader economic benefit to the rakyat, is expected to be announced in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q2025), according to Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry Liew Chin Tong.
Giving an idea of what criteria interested investors could expect to see on the scorecard, Liew noted that setting up shop in least developed states or good ESG practices will play a part in scoring higher.
“We want to see whether industries can help level the playing field between more advanced cities and the least developed states. The scorecard is with that intention,” Liew said during a panel discussion at the Malaysia Economic Forum 2025 on Thursday.
The scorecard is a continuation of the National Investment Aspirations (NIA) launched back in 2022. Back then, while investment incentive frameworks were set up, Liew noted that a standardised scorecard was not created.
With the new scorecard, Liew said the government wants to see investments bring in more jobs as well as support Malaysia’s development of a more complex economy.
"That means we do not want to incentivise an industry that does not help us create a more complex economy. We do not want to incentivise an industry that does not value-add," he said.
“We need a new consensus on how to develop and incentivise our industries. Quite often, you hear noises or comments that various governments over the years favour foreign investment. Now, this [scorecard] is also one way to level the playing field.
“Regardless, of whether foreign or local investment, the point is we want to see some of these objectives being achieved,” he added.
Liew said the investment incentive scorecard is not under the purview of Miti but the Ministry of Finance, which will announce its details in 2Q2025.
It was previously reported that the criteria of the scorecard would be based on New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030.
The NIMP is guided by four key missions, namely advancing economic complexity, tech up for a digitally vibrant nation, pushing for net zero, and safeguarding economic security and inclusivity.