NEW companies growing their operations in Malaysia is a sign that the business community remains confident in the national economy despite the change in government, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“Companies will continue to expand and invest. It is a testimony that despite the change in government, there is confidence in the economic growth,” he said.

Lim was speaking at the launch of Integrated Cold Chain Logistics Sdn Bhd’s (ICCL) One-Stop Logistics Centre for Regional Distribution and Centre of Excellence for Halal Logistics in Bukit Minyak, Penang this morning.

ICCL, Malaysia’s biggest halal provider of temperature-controlled distribution services, has invested RM51 million in its new logistics centre that uses an automated storage and retrieval system for its operations.

The centre will help the company position itself as a regional distributor of cold chain solutions, cross-border services, and repacking.

“We are happy to see this RM51 million investment… we commend the company for having the courage to think big in order to succeed.

“It is like us. We never gave up the dream of changing Malaysia. Today we have a new Malaysia,” Lim said, referring to Pakatan Harapan’s historic victory in the May 9 polls.

The former Penang chief minister said his role in the new Malaysia had changed, but PH’s focus remained the same.

He said the new federal government would ensure that the people and the private sector be given equal chances to succeed in an environment with no corruption, misappropriation, and power abuse, and where the government was a partner.

“We won’t see people like Jho Low in the new Malaysia,” he said, referring to wanted Penang-born businessman Low Taek Jho, who is accused of masterminding the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, which saw billions stolen from the state investment firm.

“We are a government that stresses transparency and accountability.

“We know that sometimes, the truth makes some people uncomfortable, but in the long run, it is better than telling lies… if you tell the truth, people will believe you for a long time.”

Lim had been making exposes of the scandals and the country’s RM1 trillion debt since assuming the post of finance minister in May.

He was criticised last month for exposing too many bad matters, but Lim, a trained accountant, said it was his duty to give a true picture of the country’s finances.

“The situation is not positive and it shows that we must heal our finances and economy before going into new projects… but let us see that our glass is half full, not half empty.”

Lim said Malaysia was dealing with challenges both internally and internationally, including plugging budget leakages and paying the RM1 trillion debt, as well as surviving the effects of a trade war between the United States and China.

It was reported that the huge national debt had hampered PH’s ability to deliver its election pledges within the first 100 days of it coming into power.

“We are facing many challenges because of the debt. However, we still managed to scrap the GST (goods and services tax), retain BR1M (People’s Aid Scheme), and stabilise the petrol price.

“Many told us to hold off (abolishing the GST) due to the debt, but we have proven that the country will not go bankrupt without the tax. We can achieve this as long as there is no corruption.

“We hope that within the 100 days, we will be able to reveal our solutions towards fulfilling the election promises we had made,” Lim said. – July 7, 2018.