Malaysia secured RM218.5 billion in approved investments in the first half of 2026, up 11.7% year-on-year, with the projects expected to create 99,030 jobs, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
Foreign investment accounted for RM126.9 billion, rising 18.5% year-on-year, while domestic investment increased 3.5% to RM91.6 billion. Services attracted the largest share at RM149.6 billion, followed by manufacturing at RM51.3 billion and the primary sector at RM17.6 billion.
MIDA chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the performance showed that Malaysia was attracting investments that went beyond scale, particularly in digital services and higher-value manufacturing.
“The half-year performance is powered by our two largest economic engines – services and manufacturing sectors, and both showcase quality, not just scale of investments,” he said.
The services sector recorded a 21% increase in approved investments, driven by information and communications investments which jumped 68.2% to RM103.3 billion. Data centre and cloud computing projects accounted for RM95.8 billion as demand for AI computing capacity continued to grow.
Manufacturing remained the largest source of expected employment, with 64,555 jobs or 65.2% of total jobs linked to approved investments. Domestic manufacturing investment rose 23% to RM18.6 billion, while approved projects surged 88.2% to 973.
MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said the focus now was on turning approvals into actual operations and employment.
“Securing the commitment is only half the task; the other half is turning it into operating plants and jobs on the ground,” he said.
The primary sector also surged 414% to RM17.6 billion, driven by 23 offshore oil and gas projects, with domestic investors contributing RM10.3 billion.
