THE decision by Tesla Inc to set up its Malaysia base in Selangor will draw more international investors to the state, Amirudin Shari said.

In a statement, he said it was also in keeping with the state’s ambition to turn Selangor into a hub with the most efficient 5G internet facility in Southeast Asia.

“Tesla Inc’s presence in Selangor reflects the confidence of investors towards this administration and it will encourage more international companies in the battery technology industry to invest in Selangor.

“This is not only important in the industry of private vehicles, but also the use of clean battery technology in the public transport industry such as rail, buses and vans,” he said.

Amirudin said to facilitate Tesla’s entry into the state, the relevant district offices and local authorities are ready to support Tesla’s investment in locations identified in the Petaling and Sepang districts.

The caretaker Selangor menteri besar’s statement comes after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today announced that Tesla will set up a headquarters in Selangor this year. 

Anwar held a virtual meeting with Elon Musk, chief executive officer of the electric vehicle manufacter, this morning.

“I welcome Tesla’s interest and investment decisions in Malaysia and also Musk’s willingness to come to Malaysia soon. 

“I congratulated him and stated that the government supported the decision with the opening of Tesla’s head office, as well as service and experience centres in Selangor this year,” he said today. 

The virtual meeting was also joined by SpaceX senior director Lauren Dreyer, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

On March 1, Tengku Zafrul said his ministry approved Tesla’s application to import battery electric vehicles (BEVs) into Malaysia.

Currently, the nearest Tesla official service centre is located in Singapore and vehicle owners under the Greentech leasing programme have been sending their cars to Hong Kong for major reparation work.

Meanwhile, Anwar said Malaysia will continue to strengthen its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions as early as 2050. 

He said Malaysia has a comprehensive plan and ecosystem, as well as competitive resources to support the clean energy industry, including electric mobility.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said they also discussed the participation of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service, which requires minimal physical infrastructure and land to set up, that will contribute to faster and more widespread internet access, especially in rural areas.

“This initiative will increase the ability and well-being of the people, especially from the aspect of education and the potential of agricultural technology and income generation,” he said. – July 14, 2023.