[Lim Guang Eng menyebut betapa Mahathir sepatutnya berhenti mengherdik dan menyalahkan pelabur luar, khususnya pelabur asing dari lima negara yang paling banyak menyumbang kepada ekonomi negara pada tahun 2000 lepas dengan FDI berjumlah RM 24.58 bilion.

Pelabur China, Hong Kong and Taiwan dan mungkin Singapura tentu kecewa dengan isu BBM, Sekolah Cina atau Suqui. Malah isu 'Melayu Singapura Lebih Berjaya' pun BN cuba menunjuk lagak dan muka. Ekonomi A.S. pula sedang menguncup, tetapi Mahathir masih tidak boleh menutup mulutnya dari membidas polisi mereka. Sepatutnya PM cuba berkelakuan lebih senonoh kerana marah itu tidak dapat membaiki apa-apa. Ia hanya mengurangkan lagi minat pelabur yang sedia ada. Jika mereka pergi bukan kroni sahaja susah, malah seluruh rakyat yang ada.
- Editor]

Press Statement By DAP National Vice-Chairman Lim Guan Eng In Petaling Jaya On 9.2.2001

Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamed Should Stop Angry Rhetoric And Criticisms Or Antagonise Our Top 5 Foreign Investors Who Invested RM24.58 Billion In 2000

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamed should stop his angry rhetoric and criticisms or antagonise our top 5 foreign investors who invested RM24.58 billion in 2000. Any businessmen, university economics lecturer or management books will tell you that the customer is always right. Unnecessarily scolding or antagonising your customers is bad for business and the economy.

That is why the Prime Minister should direct all government leaders to study closely the figures released by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority(MIDA) of the top 5 foreign investors for 2000 as follows:

Country	RM(billion)
1. United States	9.09
2. Netherlands	5.55
3. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan	4.37
4. Japan	2.79
5. Singapore	2.78
Total	24.58

Of the top 5 countries, 3 countries are affected by the actions of Malaysian government and its leaders; namely the United States, the greater China region and Singapore with a total investment of RM16.24 billion. Despite the Malaysian government's strong criticisms of United States and Singapore, both countries are important sources of foreign investment. Malaysians will be the biggest loser if RM16.24 billion are driven away because our government leaders are not rational and behave too emotional instead.

Similarly, the government must be aware of the sentiments of investors from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan who are affected by news reports of the unfair discrimination suffered by the Chinese community here. Unless the government removes such unfair and discriminatory policies, these investors can easily go to other neighbouring countries with equally attractive incentives.

At a time when the American economy is slowing down and the Malaysian economy is expected to face a recession, every ringgit of foreign investment counts and is important to reduce the negative economic impact. Therefore it is important that Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir behave responsibly, by studying ways to attract the principal sources of foreign investment, not by scolding them but by making our economy more competitive, skilled and productive.