Sabah poised as key investment gateway as Malaysia accelerates shift to intelligent economy, says SCCC president

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 22): Malaysia is accelerating its transition towards an intelligent economy, with Sabah possessing significant investment potential, said Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) president Datuk Frankie Liew.

He called on Chinese and international investors to invest in Malaysia – especially Sabah – to seize development opportunities across Southeast Asia and the global market.

Liew made these remarks when he led a SCCC delegation to attend the 2025 Haike Roundtable where he delivered a keynote address.

He pointed out that Malaysia is currently at a critical stage of technological transformation, with national development shifting from traditional industrial upgrading towards an intelligent economic system driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation.

“Malaysia’s latest fiscal planning clearly identifies artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and digital infrastructure as three key development pillars. The government hopes that ‘Made by Malaysia’ will, in the future, become synonymous with high quality, innovation and sustainable development.”

Liew noted that the Malaysian government is currently prioritising the development of AI healthcare, smart agriculture, intelligent manufacturing, and sustainable energy, with the aim of enhancing the country’s technology export capabilities.

He also highlighted that Malaysia is actively developing itself as a regional medical hub and promoting the growth of family offices, thereby strengthening its position in Asia’s wealth management landscape.

The 2025 Haike Roundtable (Fuyang Session) was held from December 19 to 21 in Fuyang City, Anhui Province. As part of the Haike Roundtable series, the event aims to establish an international economic and trade dialogue platform, promote economic exchange and cooperation between Fuyang and surrounding regions, and focus on themes such as high-quality urban cluster development, hub-based economies, and logistics and industrial chain integration.

Members of the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce delegation attending the event included Deputy President Brett Chua, Vice President Chiew Heng Hock, committee members Douglas Fong, Ling Hang Tze, Leo Liew and Cyndi Liu.

Liew emphasised that Malaysia’s continued ability to attract international investment is not only due to supportive policies, but also its strategic geographical location and well-developed industrial ecosystem. As an important state in East Malaysia, Sabah is endowed with abundant natural resources and unique locational advantages, serving as a key gateway connecting ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region.

“Sabah is not only a tourism destination, but also has strong potential for the development of eco-tourism, biotechnology, and related industries. At the same time, Sabah can serve as an important bridge for Chinese enterprises entering the ASEAN market, helping them expand regionally and internationally.”

From a regional perspective, Malaysia is strategically located at the heart of Southeast Asia, with the Strait of Malacca serving as a vital international shipping route. The country is also home to major ports such as Port Klang, Penang Port, Johor Port, and deep-water ports in Sabah. Coupled with its manufacturing base, diversified and open economic structure, and internationally experienced Chinese business community, Malaysia has become an important platform for Chinese enterprises to establish a presence in ASEAN and extend their reach to other global markets.

Liew further noted that under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework – supported by a complete industrial chain, mature upstream and downstream ecosystems, and a pool of skilled technical talent — Malaysia can play a synergistic role in sectors such as electronics, automotive, and food industries, thereby promoting regional industrial chain integration and upgrading.

On the issue of potential trade barriers arising from differences in technical standards and regulations, he expressed hope that countries would actively promote mutual recognition of standards and infrastructure connectivity, in order to enhance the overall quality and mutual benefits of RCEP.

Liew stressed that Malaysia has consistently upheld a neutral and trustworthy stance in international affairs, and continues to promote the participation of civil and business communities in international economic and trade development through close cooperation between the government and business associations.

He added that the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce looks forward to deepening cooperation with enterprises from various countries in areas such as technology investment, supply chain collaboration, capital deployment, and market expansion. In particular, the Chamber hopes to jointly unlock Sabah’s development potential and achieve mutually beneficial and win-win outcomes.