PUTRAJAYA: Thousands of high value and skilled job opportunities will be created from investments by Tesla and SpaceX, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Elon Musk, the founder and chief executive officer of Tesla and SpaceX, agreed to make significant investments in the country, including setting up a Malaysia office for Tesla in Cyberjaya soon.
Anwar said although their meeting was via a video conference, the discussions between him and Musk were fruitful and promising.
“Musk also agreed to collaborate with the government, involving his company, SpaceX, the satellite internet service Starlink and electric vehicles (EV).
“In fact, three Malaysian companies will also be involved in the project with SpaceX. Musk also expressed intention to visit Malaysia soon,” he said after performing Friday prayers at the Al-Khairiyah Mosque in Taman Sri Gombak yesterday.
“His visit will improve Malaysia’s image among foreign investors.”
At the Budget 2024 engagement session, the Prime Minister said that electric vehicle production, through Tesla Inc, would also be increased.
He said Starlink, one of Musk’s business entities, which focuses on providing humanitarian services, was also highlighted during the discussion.
“He stressed the future agenda of mankind is not to allow inequality to persist and to ensure opportunity for every single citizen, even in the most remote parts of the country to have internet access that is cheaper and competitive,” he said.
Anwar said Malaysia was among the earliest countries to support SpaceX, another of Musk’s entities established in 2009, even before Western countries.
“Musk said he was touched by our confidence. I told him that although I could not personally take credit for this as it was done by the previous leadership, Malaysia was still proud of that decision,” he said.
Starlink is a satellite broadband service developed by SpaceX which is currently available in 32 countries.
Anwar held a 25-minute virtual conference meeting with Musk, which was also attended by SpaceX senior director Lauren Dreyer, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, and Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
