Mukhriz blames opposition for FDI plunge????

(Bernama) - Measures taken by the federal government have helped to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) this year contrary to the poor showing in 2008 and 2009 resulting from the opposition's disparaging remarks about the country, Mukhriz Mahathir said yesterday.

The Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister said the disparaging remarks directed at the BN government had instilled fear in foreign investors, so much so that FDI in 2008 and 2009 dropped by up to 81 percent.

When the investors kept away, the opposition blamed the federal government for what they claimed to be inefficiency in drawing investments.

"They cause the problem and they blame us for it. However, the government always does its best to attract foreign investors," he told reporters when met at the Aidilfitri open house of Pendang Umno Youth head Akrom Abdul Hamid in Pendang.

Mukhriz said the government measures had yielded RM5.6 billion in FDI in the first three months of this year, almost as much as the RM5.66 billion in FDI for the whole of last year.

He said the government, through the ministry, always held promotions for foreign investors regardless of which state, even those administered by the opposition parties, they wanted to invest in.