Abu Dhabi mulls US$1b spending in Malaysia

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced a major initiative by the Abu Dhabi government whereby a sovereign wealth fund it wholly owns is set to make a US$1 billion investment in Malaysia in the energy, real estate and hospitality sectors.

Najib said the proposed investment would be carried out in partnership with a new Malaysian sovereign wealth fund to be known as "1Malaysia Development Berhad" (1MDB), which is the result of the government's decision to expand the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).

Najib was speaking to Bernama Monday night after talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, during a brief stopover in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi en route to Kuala Lumpur after visiting Egypt and Saudi Arabia earlier.

"I had a very productive meeting with the Crown Prince. He has agreed that Abu Dhabi, through its sovereign wealth fund, increase its investments in Malaysia starting with a fund of US$1 billion," said Najib, who is also Finance Minister.

Sheikh Mohammed is chairman of the Mubadala Development Company which, since its establishment in 2002, represents the main investment vehicle for the government of Abu Dhabi to achieve sustainable social and economic benefits for the emirate.

Abu Dhabi's proposed investment ties in neatly with Najib's recent announcement to liberalise conditions for foreign investors and woo investments to help the economy recover faster from the global and regional slowdown.

Najib said: "We're going to identify sectors that they can co-invest with our sovereign wealth fund, especially in areas like energy, real estate and hospitality."Elaborating, the Malaysian leader said 1MDB would be a fund created on the basis of transforming the TIA into a federal-based sovereign wealth fund instead of a state-based entity.

"I've had discussions with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (DYMM Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin). His Majesty has consented for the TIA to be restructured and federalised to become 1MDB which will be wholly-owned by the Ministry of Finance, reporting directly to the Prime Minister," said Najib.

The prime minister said the Malaysian Cabinet had also given its approval in principle for the TIA to be federalised."We'll be issuing further details in the coming weeks," said Najib who was joined by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at a private dinner with Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates' Armed Forces, at the Emirates Palace hotel.

In a statement obtained by Bernama, the Prime Minister's Office said 1MDB would drive sustainable, long-term economic development for Malaysia by forging strategic global partnerships and promoting foreign direct investment for Malaysia to further enhance the multiplier effects for the Malaysian economy.

To a question, Najib said 1MDB was in the process of being finalised and he expected it to be up and running "very soon".The prime minister had earlier presided over a dialogue session with representatives from Malaysian companies operating in the United Arab Emirates which was also attended by Malaysian ambassador to the UAE Datuk Yahaya Abdul Jabar and consul-general in Dubai Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin.

Najib told Bernama that he was pleased with the companies' achievements thus far."And I mentioned this to the Crown Prince, that the Malaysian companies have a level of comfort being present here."All they want is an opportunity to participate in bidding on a level playing field, and they're looking at new opportunities in Abu Dhabi," he said.

He said Sheikh Mohammed had mentioned that Malaysian companies had done well in Abu Dhabi, singling out the Malaysian firm involved in the construction of the Formula One circuit in Abu Dhabi -- WCT Engineering."I'm confident that they will continue to do well in this country," added Najib.He and his entourage later left for the airport to catch their flight home. - BERNAMA