FORMER prime minister Najib Razak has nothing but brickbats for the government over the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report that the inflow of foreign direct investments into Malaysia had dropped by 68% in 2020.

Don’t use Covid-19 as an excuse when other Asean countries are also facing the same threat, he wrote on his Facebook post, then priding himself with praises – “my team’s hardwork paid off as more than 80 international companies received invitation to set up branches in Malaysia”.

He was referring to the years when he was prime minister under the Barisan Nasional ruling government.

After 2018, Najib said the country did not really see much FDI. “All we hear is our leaders calling locals lazy, (he must be referring to Dr Mahathir Mohamad who helmed the Pakatan Harapan government after BN’s collapse in the 2018 general election).

“All we see is political turmoil and weak policies, which are affecting our economy”, he says. All these coming from the mouth of a man whom the government is seeking RM1.69 billion in additional tax assessments for the years 2011 to 2017 when he was prime minister.

Take note of the very huge amount of unpaid taxes he owes to the government, which could have been easily set aside for development, eradication of poverty and a host of other projects.

This political aristocracy has also been found guilty on several charges of corruption linked to the multibillion-dollar state investment fund, 1MDB.

Najib’s era in office would likely go down in the country’s history as one that is plagued with scandals – one that has put Malaysia in the eyes of the world for the wrong reasons.

He is quick to blame the government over “political turmoil and weak policies” when, in reality, he is partly to be blamed for the political uncertainty hovering over this country at present.

While the government had been persistent and focused on providing endless assistance to safeguard the rakyat’s lives and livelihoods and the economy, Najib and his political company, including opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, had attempted to form a new government and replace Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister amidst these unprecedented times.

But they failed. Still, their bad intentions and attempts had added to the already difficult situation the country is in now.

Back to the decline in FDI, Najib as a former prime minister, should have well understood the impacts and aftermaths of the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic to the economy.

UNCTAD itself reported that almost all regions reported lower FDI last year, primarily due to the impact of lockdowns and the drastic decrease in economic activities.

MIDA, the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the International Trade and Industry Ministry, has detailed the country’s FDI landscape in 2020 and beyond in a statement it issued today.

Probably, Najib and gang can study the statement first before firing another salvo at the government.

Among others, MIDA highlighted specific initiatives that had been implemented to expedite the realisation of investments as well as a national investment strategy that would be formulated to attract high-quality investments.

MIDA also said investment intentions remain healthy in the country, which recorded a total of RM109.8 billion in approved investments for the first nine months of last year, involving some 2,935 projects and creating 64,701 jobs, with FDIs accounting for RM42.6 billion.

It also highlighted Malaysia’s attraction in getting a fair share of multinational corporations in high-end and high-technology industries. Existing companies, meanwhile, continue to expand their operations in Malaysia, illustrating Malaysia’s on-going value proposition to investors.

Care to read the statement first, Najib, before you make a mountain out of a molehill with endless allegations. Maybe it could open your heart and mind to what is being progressively done by the government to steer the economy back to the right track amidst these trying times.

You’re bereft of content for your Facebook, and mostly undermining and putting the blame solely on the government won’t help either. The rakyat are already badly hit by the pandemic. Don’t prolong their suffering with all these long-lasting, ill-effects brought on by politics. – February 8, 2021.

*Maimunah Abdul Rahim reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.