MELAKA: Google picked Malaysia over several Asean countries for its RM61bil investment because of the country’s political stability and clear economic policies, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said Google, after weighing its options in the region, made the decision and announced it itself.

“Google from the United States, through its leader Ruth Porat who came here, announced it. Not me. They announced their decision.

“After assessing the possibility of investing in several countries, including several Asean countries, they finalised that Google would invest RM61bil in Malaysia,” he said in his speech at the Majlis Anugerah Tangan Emas Perdana Menteri at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) yesterday.

Anwar said he took the opportunity to speak to Porat and also messaged her on WhatsApp.

“I asked her to be frank with me. Don’t follow protocol. Tell me honestly what our strengths and weaknesses are,” he said.

He said Porat told him Malaysia was chosen because its politics were stable.

Anwar said stable politics allowed for clear policies, which investors looked for.

“When politics is stable and there is clarity in economic policies, people know. An investor in AI knows our policy, the Industrial Master Plan,” he said.

Google on Wednesday announced it would invest US$15bil (RM61bil) over 2027 and 2028 in data centre campuses and cloud operations in Malaysia.

On another matter, Anwar said universities must quickly retool their courses to give graduates the added specialisation that major investors such as Google and Infineon say they need.

Big investors were proud of local graduates but had told him there were still gaps to fill, he said.

“If you ask the giants with investments worth billions of ringgit, like Infineon in Kedah, Nvidia in Johor, Google and Microsoft in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Melaka, they gene­rally say our young people are disciplined, hardworking and qualified.

“But they must be given additional specialisation in their disciplines. This must be answered urgently by the leadership of universities, training institutes and colleges so that our young people meet the needs,” he said.

Anwar said technical skills were key to Malaysia’s development, but students should not lose sight of their values.

“Without technology and technical expertise, Malaysia cannot rise as a developed nation.

“But in our eagerness to reach for the sky, let us not forget to stay rooted to the ground,” he said, referring to language, culture, religion and character.

He said bullying in schools and universities stemmed from up­­bringing, and the education system had to shape good conduct.

“That is why we cannot compromise, because the education system shapes manners and character,” he said.

Anwar said his generation hoped the country would be inherited by young people who could earn far better wages and be exposed to the most advanced technology.