Articles

THE REAL ‘MERDEKA’: CHOOSING UNITY OVER FEAR-DRIVEN POLITICS

29 August 2026

Malaysia must move beyond fear-driven identity politics and focus on building a stronger, more confident future. Priorities...

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WE HAVE RAISED THE ‘CEILING’, NOW WE MUST RAISE THE FLOOR

27 July 2026

Malaysia’s strong GDP growth in 2026 reflects successful efforts to raise the country’s economic “ceiling” through investment,...

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100 DAYS OF GLOBAL ENERGY CRISIS: WHY DISCIPLINE AND UNITY ARE OUR STRONGEST...

13 June 2026

  Tengku Zafrul Aziz argues that the global energy crisis is no longer temporary but a long-term...

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A DISTANT CONFLICT ROCKS ASEAN

04 April 2026

Tengku Zafrul Aziz explains how the US-Israel airstrikes on Iran and the disruption of the Strait of...

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CAN MALAYSIAN POLITICS UNITE THE COUNTRY WHEN THE WORLD IS COMING APART?

14 March 2026

Tengku Zafrul Aziz stresses that amid global uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation, Malaysia’s greatest strength lies...

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LESSONS FROM 2025, CHOICES FOR 2026

03 January 2026

Tengku Zafrul Aziz reflects on Malaysia’s economic challenges and progress during his years in government, highlighting the...

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CRITIQUE DEMANDS A VOICE, EXECUTION DEMANDS A VISION, COURAGE AND THE SCARS OF...

03 November 2025

Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship was marked by historic success, including Timor-Leste’s accession, key trade upgrades, and the...

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TO OUR YOUTH: A NOTE ON THE FUTURE ASEAN

27 September 2025

Tengku Zafrul Aziz reflected on Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN’s economic pillar, stressing its role in shaping jobs,...

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POSITIONING MALAYSIA AS A LEADER

21 June 2025

Malaysia’s leap from 34th to 23rd in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking reflects the success of...

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LEAPING AHEAD TO LEAD WITH CONVICTION

21 June 2025

Malaysia’s 11-spot rise to 23rd in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking highlights the success of Madani-led...

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FORGING A BRAVE NEW WORLD

31 May 2025

The inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur is seen as a historic milestone, signalling deeper trilateral cooperation...

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CAN MALAYSIA SURVIVE IN THE NEW GLOBAL ‘DISORDER’?

26 May 2025

The world is now facing a "new global disorder": an era of geopolitical and economic uncertainty that...

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CAN JS-SEZ BRIDGE SUPPLY CHAIN BARRIERS AMIDST GLOBAL TARIFF STORM?

26 April 2025

Following productive engagements in Washington and the successful JS-SEZ Forum in Johor Baru, Malaysia reaffirms its commitment...

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MALAYSIA, ASEAN AND THE TARIFF STORM: NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF

08 March 2025

Malaysia's record RM378.5 billion in approved investments for 2024 signals strong economic momentum, backed by the New...

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CAN MALAYSIA CATALYSE ASEAN’S FOUR REINVENTION?

08 February 2025

The article discusses ASEAN's evolution since its founding in 1967, with key reinventions in 1976, the 1990s,...

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2025: TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

04 January 2025

Malaysia has made significant progress since the Madani government took office in December 2022, attracting RM448 billion...

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WHY ASEAN’S NEUTRALITY IS OUR GREATEST ASSET IN AN INCREASINGLY DIVIDED WORLD

15 December 2024

Tengku Zafrul Aziz emphasises ASEAN's growing relevance as Malaysia prepares to chair the bloc in 2025. With...

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ASEAN 2025: WHAT’S IN IT FOR MALAYSIA?

09 December 2024

In 2025, Malaysia will chair ASEAN, marking a pivotal moment for the region and celebrating the ASEAN...

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FROM APEC TO ASEAN: MALAYSIA’S STRATEGIC POSITION IN SHAPING REGIONAL ECONOMIC COLLABORATION

16 November 2024

November has been busy for Malaysia’s Prime Minister, marked by international engagements, including CIIE, Apec in Peru,...

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BUILDING ENDURANCE FOR ‘MARATHON’ OF DEVELOPING MALAYSIA’S ECONOMY

12 October 2024

Malaysia's economic growth is progressing like a marathon, with the World Bank raising 2024 growth projections to...

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THRIVING TIES BODE WELL FOR DEEPER COLLABORATION

16 September 2024

For decades, Malay- sia and Japan have enjoyed a thriving economic partner- ship, built on a foun-...

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EMBRACING M’SIA’S UNITY AND DIVERSITY

14 September 2024

Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz: I FEEL that this year's Malaysia Day reflects a renewed sense of...

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NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR STRATEGY TO GUIDE INDUSTRY UP VALUE CHAIN

10 June 2024

Malaysia's electrical and electronics (E&E) industry needs to take the first step to move up the value...

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TENGKU ZAFRUL ON RAISING THE BAR FOR MALAYSIAN INDUSTRIES

10 June 2024

In December 2022, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz was appointed as the minister of international trade...

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MALAYSIA-CHINA TIES THROUGH THE LENS OF MALAYSIA’S ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP 2025

27 May 2024

As Malaysia prepares for its Asean chairmanship in 2025, I believe our country can become a key...

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IS WTO PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR TODAY’S GLOBAL TRADE DYNAMICS?

09 March 2024

I recently led Malaysia’s delegation to the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), a biennial...

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MALAYSIA IN 2024: A TIME FOR BOLDNESS

08 January 2024

As we usher in the new year, it is important that we take a step back and...

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ONE YEAR AT MITI: A JOURNEY TO ELEVATEMALAYSIA’S ECONOMY

09 December 2023

Reflecting on a year as Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, the focus has been on...

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CHAMPIONING A MISSION-ORIENTED APPROACH TO INNOVATION

13 November 2023

In his keynote at The Edge Billion Ringgit Club Awards, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Malaysia’s...

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MALAYSIA AT 60: DON’T STOP BELIEVING IN HER POTENTIAL

18 September 2023

In a Malaysia Day reflection, the speaker emphasizes Malaysia's strength in its diversity and the need for...

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RECORD FDI FLOWS INTO ASEAN: HOW MUCH OF IT CAN MALAYSIA CAPTURE?

26 August 2023

At the 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, it was revealed that ASEAN saw a record $224 billion...

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EKONOMI MADANI: SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE COUNTRY’S NEXT INDUSTRIAL TAKE-OFF

29 July 2023

The Ekonomi Madani framework, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, aims to transform Malaysia's economy...

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GLOBAL CHALLENGES: MALAYSIA’S INDUSTRIES MUST ‘GO BIG OR GO HOME’

08 July 2023

In mid-2023, Malaysia's economy showed positive signs with strong growth and high investment inflows. Despite global trade...

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INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION IS KEY FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY AND WAGES

17 April 2023

The article explores how AI and technology could address Malaysia's productivity challenges. Despite leading ASEAN in productivity...

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INDUSTRY REFORM POLICIES AMONG REQUISITES FOR BETTER-PAYING JOBS

18 March 2023

The article highlights Malaysia's renewed appeal to international investors following the formation of the unity government and...

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UNITY IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD

28 January 2023

Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz recently attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 in Davos, marking...

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STRONGER MALAYSIA-INDONESIA TIES KEY TO ASEAN’S GROWTH AND STABILITY

16 January 2023

In light of a challenging global economic forecast, Malaysia aims to strengthen its engagement with ASEAN, particularly...

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TOUGH TIMES DON’T LAST, TOUGH NATIONS DO

02 October 2022

Malaysia's economy is recovering in 2022, with three consecutive quarters of growth and a decrease in unemployment....

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TRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC AND MEDIA FRONTLINERS

17 September 2022

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul honoured economic and media frontliners, recognising their role in Malaysia's pandemic recovery alongside...

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OUR HEROES WHO SURVIVED COVID-19

23 July 2022

Covid-19 severely impacted Malaysia, particularly MSMEs. Despite government measures like financing moratoriums, wage subsidies, and soft loans,...

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CRUCIAL ROLE OF GLICS, GLCS IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY

16 April 2022

Tengku Zafrul emphasises the vital role of GLICs and GLCs in Malaysia's post-pandemic economic recovery. He highlights...

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WHY APRIL 1 IS A MOMENTOUS EVENT

19 March 2022

The reopening of Malaysia’s international borders on April 1 marks a critical step in the country’s post-Covid...

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UTOPIA OR DYSTOPIA: WHICH SHALL OUR CHILDREN INHERIT?

05 February 2022

Tengku Zafrul highlights the economic challenges posed by COVID-19, inflation, and debt. While global growth is slowing,...

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BUDGET 2022: A COLOUR-BLIND BUDGET FOR ALL IN KELUARGA MALAYSIA

27 November 2021

In my 2022 Budget speech, I emphasised the Keluarga Malaysia concept, focusing on inclusiveness and togetherness. Despite...

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LIFELINE OF BEING EMPLOYED

14 November 2021

As we have been surpassing our monthly projections, we are on track to meet our target of...

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CREATING LIVELIHOODS TO HONOUR LIVES

14 November 2021

I believe jobs are crucial for our economy, supporting families and fostering national growth. Despite COVID-19's impact,...

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LET’S SET OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE TO NURTURE MALAYSIA BACK TO HEALTH

04 August 2021

In times of crisis, I have seen Malaysians unite to overcome challenges, as we did during natural...

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FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION IN MALAYSIA’S FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

14 July 2021

Malaysia, like many other countries in South-east Asia, is battling a surge in Covid-19 infections, driven in...

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WHY USE A SLEDGEHAMMER TO CRACK A NUT?

05 June 2021

We are currently in MCO 3.0 lockdown mode, and there have been calls by various parties for...

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