Malaysia continues to be an attractive destination for foreign direct investment from around the world, especially Japan.
The trend has been reinforced, especially after Mahathir Mohamad became prime minister for the second time in May after having held the same position from July 1981 to October 2003. He initiated the "Look East Policy," influenced by Japan during his first stint and is likely to revive it during his second.
According to the latest figures from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, direct investment from Japan in Malaysia totaled $887 million in 2016 and initiatives such as the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) have helped to smooth the way for Japanese companies looking to set up shop in the Southeast Asian nation.