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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia appreciates the recent policies introduced in China, as the government actively formulates measures to stimulate domestic consumption. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said he sees this as a proactive step in the right direction. “The concern has not only been about the possibility of Chinese products flooding other markets due to restricted access to the United States, but also the wider implications for other exporters, including those from Malaysia, Indonesia or Vietnam, who may now face increased competition in third markets. As the world marks World Health Day, an often overlooked kitchen staple is proving essential in the global quest for better nutrition. Palm oil — derived from the fruit of the oil palm — is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet, supplying over 30% of the world’s edible oils and fats. “These new domestic consumption measures from China could help mitigate both the direct and indirect impact on regional trade,” he said in an interview uploaded on his X account on Monday. Zafrul made this comment in response to a question about promising initiatives by China’s private sector, where major e-commerce platforms are pledging to boost domestic consumption by sourcing products from Chinese exporters and promoting them within the local market. One example is Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, which has pledged to purchase approximately US$27 billion (RM118.1 billion) worth of goods from Chinese exporters over the next year for the domestic market. Zafrul said this would be a positive development and believes Malaysia should continue to work closely with China to explore further collaborative opportunities, especially in the context of such private sector-driven initiatives.–BERNAMA

PETALING JAYA: Foreign investors extended their net selling in Asian markets for a third consecutive week, with a significant net outflow of US$3.84 billion (RM16.84 billion) during the week ended April 18, 2025, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd’s fund flow report. Among the tracked markets, only the Philippines and India recorded net foreign inflows. India saw the largest regional inflows, with US$990.4 million (RM4.35 billion) reversing a two-week streak of net selling. This rebound was attributed to easing inflation, which fell to a 67-month low of 3.34% in March 2025, mainly due to deflation in food prices. Additionally, the country’s resilient domestic growth outlook, with forecasts of a normal monsoon and a 6.5% growth target from the Reserve Bank of India, boosted investor confidence. MIDF also noted progress in India’s trade talks with the US, including potential removal of import duties on energy products like ethane and liquefied petroleum gas, further enhancing bilateral ties. The Philippines ended a three-week selling streak with a modest net inflow of US$6.5 million (RM28.51 million). In contrast, Indonesia saw a net outflow of US$1.26 billion (RM5.52 billion), marking its second consecutive week of foreign selling. The country’s palm oil sector is pressing the government to reduce export taxes due to reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US, which are expected to lower farm-gate prices. South Korea continued to experience foreign selling for a fourth week, with outflows totaling US$1 billion (RM4.38 billion). The government announced an US$8.6 billion (RM37.72 billion) supplementary budget to support sectors such as automobiles and semiconductors, which were hit by US tariffs. Vietnam, which has faced eleven consecutive weeks of foreign selling, recorded outflows of US$185.8 million (RM815.17 million). The country’s cautious stance on aligning with China’s anti-US rhetoric, despite Xi Jinping’s visit to Hanoi and over 40 cooperation agreements, appeared to weigh on investor sentiment. Thailand also experienced US$26.9 million (RM118.02 million) in net outflows, marking its eighth straight week of foreign selling. The Bank of Thailand warned that US tariffs could reduce GDP growth by up to one percentage point, with the full impact expected to be felt in the second half of the year. On the domestic front, foreign net selling on Bursa Malaysia eased to RM330.5 million, significantly lower than the RM1.97 billion recorded the previous week. Foreign investors were net sellers every trading day except Friday, which saw a net inflow of RM39.9 million. The largest outflow occurred on Wednesday at RM153.6 million, while other days ranged between RM16.2 million and RM120.6 million. Friday’s inflow followed five consecutive days of outflows. The sectors that saw net foreign inflows included telecommunications and media (RM119.5 million), consumer products and services (RM34.4 million), and property (RM2.45 million). The largest net foreign outflows were observed in financial services (RM96.6 million), technology (RM87 million), and construction (RM80.8 million). Local institutions continued to support the market with net inflows of RM356.2 million, marking their 26th consecutive week of net buying. Meanwhile, local retail investors became net sellers with outflows of RM25.7 million, reversing a two-week buying trend. The average daily trading volume declined across the board, with foreign investors, local institutions, and local retailers registering decreases of 48.7%, 56.7%, and 47.2%, respectively. –BERNAMA

JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor state government is considering the establishment of an ASEAN industrial park within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), aimed at attracting strategic investments from ASEAN and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries. Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi outlined that the industrial park would focus on high-value sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green technology, and the digital economy. The park is envisioned to drive technology transfer, boost regional competitiveness, and diversify supply chains across ASEAN. Onn Hafiz emphasized that the industrial park would offer customised incentives to foreign investors, including tax breaks, simplified talent mobility, and temporary relaxation of fund repatriation rules, making it an attractive proposition for RCEP-related investments. “We aim to stimulate economic growth and job creation in the JS-SEZ and establish the region as a key investment destination for RCEP countries,” he stated during the JS-SEZ joint business and investment forum. The JS-SEZ has already proven to be an investment hub, with RM27.4 billion in new investments approved in the first quarter of 2025, a substantial increase compared to RM48.5 billion in 2024. Additionally, another RM23 billion worth of projects are in the pipeline for April 2025. Onn Hafiz highlighted the state government’s efforts to create an efficient and investor-friendly environment, noting the success of the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre-Johor (IMFC-J), launched in February 2025. The centre has significantly streamlined the investment process, enabling faster approvals for high-impact projects, with 42 such projects now under accelerated processing. “We are committed to reducing bureaucratic delays. What traditionally took 24 months from briefing to operations can now be completed in just 13 to 14 months, saving nearly 10 months of processing time. Johor is serious, responsive, and ready for investments,” he affirmed.