Malaysian Industrial Policy

Malaysian Industrial Policy argues that selective government promotion efforts have been successful and crucial for Malaysias industrialisation despite some disastrous consequences associated with the Mahathir governments heavy industrialisation programme. The authors present evidence to show that direct and indirect government interventions have induced and supported investments, accelerating the structural transformation of the Malaysian economy. However, industrial development in Malaysia has been modest compared with that in Northeast Asia because of weaknesses in industrial policy andexcessive reliance on foreign investments.

Despite growing concern over environmental issues and the sustainability of economic growth, industrialization is still generally associated with progress and development. This is particularly true of developing countries where industrialization is often the nation's top priority. Industrializing Malaysia presents a critical analysis of the experience of industrialization in Malaysia, examining the role, impact and efficacy of post-independence industrialization policies. The author refocuses attention on some major intended as well as unintended implications and consequences of policies and performance. A wide range of issues is covered: in addition to general historical commentaries and sectoral studies, there are analyses of direct foreign investment, technology, linkages, free trade zones, industrial estates, and rural development.

Malaysia. Industrialization, with information on occupational structure and unemployment. Economic development is stressed. Industrial policy assessed. Production of industries, with detailed list of industrial products. Problems connected with fiscal policy and tariffs. Foreign investment and banks.

This volume, and its companion, Industrial Technology Development in Malaysia, examine and evaluate Malaysian industrialization in terms of its experience of and prospects for industrial technology development. The focus is on role played by state-sponsored innovation in the process economic development and in the context of national development strategies. Technology, Competitiveness and the State, provides a valuable analysis of the technological development of a Newly Industrializing Country and reflects on whether existing development strategies can be maintained in the wake of the financial crises sweeping the East Asian economies.

This book examines the national automotive policy in Malaysia to help readers gain an understanding of the country’s industrial policy-making processes. Addressing a gap in analysis of the political economy of the national automotive policy, the research presented combines the new institutional theory and the developmental state approach to provide new insights into elite policymakers’ measures to shield domestic automotive enterprises from pro-market reforms. The formation of the national car project marks a turning point for Malaysia's industrial development as a country, which it envisions will lead to it becoming a major player in the global automotive market. However, the domestic institutional factors embedded in ethno-economic interests and patronage constrain national car-makers, limiting their potential to grow, and instead causing a slowdown in the industry. Allowing readers to understand the background to Malaysia’s heavy industrialisation programme and the birth of its national car projects, this book critically discusses the significance of institutional context in policy outcomes, and highlights how institutions and policies have impact growth or decline. It is a valuable resource relevant to analysts, researchers and students who are interested in the political economy of the national industrial policy and automotive industry in Malaysia and beyond.

Here, Spinanger examines the post-independence industrialization strategies for Peninsular Malaysia, and traces their evolution from straightforward encouragement of foreign investment to more sophisticated attempts to target backward areas.

Divided into three parts, this volume covers industrial restructuring in Southeast Asian economies, restructuring in Asia's newly industrialized economies, and industrial restructuring in the two large Asian economies.