KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 28): The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) clarified on Friday that its approved foreign investment figures differ from the foreign direct investment (FDI) figures reported by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), as the two measure different types and stages of investment.
In 2025, DOSM reported RM65.9 billion in net FDI inflows, while Mida recorded RM207.1 billion in approved foreign investments.
Mida said its figure represents committed investments for proposed projects that have received the necessary government approvals, covering planned capital and operating spending such as land, buildings and resources.
These approved investments are expected to translate into actual inflows over time, with projects typically taking 18 to 24 months to complete regulatory processes before implementation.
DOSM’s FDI figure, meanwhile, reflects actual investment flows by non-residents, including equity, reinvested earnings and debt such as inter-company loans, advances and trade credits recorded in Malaysia’s balance of payments statistics.