22/12/2025

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MONDAY | DEC 22, 2025

Johari’s Miti appointment signals stability, continuity

Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM sunbiz@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s investment and trade policies are expected to see continuity following Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani’s appointment as the new Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, with economists saying stability will be key to sustaining investor confidence amid global uncertainties. Putra Business School Associate Professor Dr Ida Yasin said Johari’s seniority and experience place him in a strong position to lead one of the country’s most critical economy-related ministries. “He is a senior leader in our country, so I believe that his experience will contribute positively to Miti (the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry). This is a very important ministry, and we need a minister with experience, so he is in the right position,” she told SunBiz . On near-term priorities, Ida said the policy direction for trade and industry has largely been set under the 13th Malaysia Plan and Budget 2026, and the focus now should be on execution rather than introducing sweeping changes. “From the government perspective, every thing has been laid out. What we hope for under the new leadership is continuity,” she said, adding that policy stability is especially important for investors making long-term commitments. “Investors do not like instability or flip-flop policies because it makes planning difficult. Even if we change leaders, policies should remain stable. This is important to instil confidence among investors and the business community.” Williams Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd founder and director Professor Geoffrey Williams echoed this view, saying Malaysia’s overall foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy remains solid, particularly with existing initiatives already gaining traction. “The strategy to attract FDI is already strong, not just with data centres but now with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone,” he

industry supply chain, including agriculture, forestry, biotechnology research, cosmetics, beauty, food and beverage, wellness, policymakers, academicians, students, NGOs, international partners and members of the Herbal Asia Exporter Clubs. “In 2026, we will present three days of conferences, business dialogues and roundtable discussions designed to strengthen best practices across the herbal industry,“ she said. The programme will focus on com mercialising untapped markets, highlighting innovation, showcasing new products and addressing market demand. Safina said this will be supported through business-to-business meetings, business matching sessions, investor and innovation talks,research and development competitions and a showcase featuring more than 600 booths displaying new and emerging products from around the world. The 19th edition of the event will also feature concurrent programmes, including market sourcing and investor exchange sessions, alongside plenary discussions, keynote addresses and targeted breakout sessions. “I encourage industry players to participate in this event, which offers insights into current market trends and opportunities,“ Safina said. “Through collaboration, we can strengthen our networks and support sustainable supply for the wellness and healthcare sector, both in Malaysia and internationally.” Ida said Johari’s corporate and finance background could be an advantage in navigating complex trade-offs between industrial development and global market realities. “With the level of global uncertainty we are facing now, and over the next few years, there will be many challenges,” she said. “We hope that under his leadership, he will be able to manage these challenges delicately and place the country in a better position with minimal impact on the economy.” She added that geopolitical tensions, slower global growth and shifting supply chains would continue to pose risks, making steady leadership at Miti even more critical. Looking ahead, the economists believe Johari faces the dual challenge of sustaining Malaysia’s attractiveness to global investors while ensuring domestic industries are not left behind. Williams said aligning industrial policy with global trends – such as supply chain diversification, digitalisation and green investment – would be key, but cautioned against unnecessary policy disruptions. “Trade competitiveness comes from removing frictions, not adding new rules,” he said. “If Malaysia gets this right, it will strengthen both trade performance and long-term investment inflows.” Overall, Johari’s appointment is seen as a signal of continuity, with the immediate task centred on executing existing plans, streng thening trade facilitation and restoring confidence among investors navigating an increasingly uncertain global environment.

said, noting that the next 12 to 18 months would be crucial. “With GE16 (16th General Election) approaching, continuity and consolidation of FDI will be more important than changing policy direction.” While FDI continues to attract attention, Williams said, Miti should place greater emphasis on reviving domestic direct investment, which has been relatively weak. “His emphasis should be on domestic investment because this is lacklustre at the moment,” Williams said, adding that stronger domestic investment would complement foreign inflows and build resilience against external shocks. Both economists also pointed to trade facilitation as a key area where Johari’s leadership could make an immediate impact. Wiiliams said Malaysia should push for a more comprehensive implementation of the Asean-wide agreement on the promotion of trade in services, and goods-related reforms, while also rethinking tariff structures. “Johari should focus on trade by implementing the Asean Trade Repository comprehensively and extending the tariff exemptions given to the US to all trading o Consistent trade, investment policies crucial to sustaining investor confidence, say economists

Johari’s seniority and experience place him in a strong position to lead one of the most critical economy-related ministries, says an economist. partners,” he said. According to Williams, removing non-tariff barriers should be at the top of Miti’s trade policy agenda. “This would make trade more competitive, agile and innovative, which in turn promotes both FDI and domestic investment,” he said. that the traditional dish incorporates herbs such as lemuni , kaduk , sera i, kesum and selum , all of which are high in antioxidants. In addition, Safina said investor interest in Malaysia’s herbal sector is rising, driven by demand for sustainable, wellness-focused products aligned with global development goals. “Wellness-linked segments such as natural medicine and spa offerings are attracting the strongest attention, with demand coming from both regional and international markets, including Saudi Arabia, Dubai and the United States.” She added that Malaysia is well-positioned to develop as a hub for research, data and skills in the herbal space, but stronger branding and a wider range of local products are needed to capture global demand. Safina cited examples of US wellness operators sourcing young jackfruit from Malaysia for vegan food and supplement products that reflect broader global trends towards natural ingredients, home cooking and traditional healing. “While Indonesia has successfully positioned jamu as a cultural reference point, Malaysia has its own heritage, including ubat periuk and Tongkat Ali , that can be developed further.” Safina highlighted the Herbal Asia Trade Show & Conference 2026, scheduled to be held in August, aims to bring together more than 1,000 participants from across the herbal

‘Leverage Visit Malaysia 2026 to internationalise our herbal economy’

Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

harvesting experiences and traditional spa treatments, Safina said. She pointed out that many modern spas do not reflect authentic Malay practices, such as the use of sintok or bedak sejuk . Safina said that positioning the herbal economy more prominently could help Malaysia extend the economic benefits of Visit Malaysia 2026 beyond tourism operators by creating demand for local farmers, rural communities and downstream food, beauty and wellness manufacturers.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should use Visit Malaysia 2026 as a market-access lever to commercially position its herbal economy towards international visitors as global demand shifts to experiential and wellness-focused offerings. Herbal Asia Trade Show and Conference & Future Forest International Sdn Bhd CEO Safina Yaakob ( pic ) said there is a lack of visibility of traditional food and wellness practices within Malaysia’s tourism narrative.

“This allows tourism spending to flow back into domestic supply chains, supporting small and medium enterprises, including villagers and orang asli and reducing reliance on imported ingredients. “Over time, it can create more sustainable value by linking local production, processing and branding with international demand for wellness-focused experiences.” Furthermore, Safina said, healthy living is closely linked to food security, particularly in developing countries, where communities need reliable access to nutritious foods and affordable ingredients. She cited nasi ulam as an example, noting

“This includes stronger representation of Malay food culture and traditional health practices, which are closely linked to the herbal economy,“ she told SunBiz . Safina said Malaysia has a strong foundation in traditional food, wellness and herbal practices, but these strengths need to be made more visible and accessible to international audiences. “For Visit Malaysia 2026, we could highlight its strengths through food, beverages and beauty products that are linked to local culture and place and position them within the broader experiential and wellness tourism segment.” Herbal tourism could include farm visits,