Chinese Investors Eye Major Aluminium Manufacturing Investment in Sarawak, Malaysia: Zahid

Meta Description: Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirms Chinese investors plan large-scale aluminium manufacturing investments in Sarawak. Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu is a key candidate site, with potential benefits for local jobs and market access.

Chinese investors have expressed strong interest in making substantial investments in aluminium manufacturing in Sarawak, Malaysia, with Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu among the key locations under consideration, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid made the confirmation on Wednesday (Oct 14) during his five-day working visit to Beijing and Tianjin, China. The trip is focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across priority economic sectors.

The proposed investment would open up new global markets for Malaysian-made aluminium products, as the Chinese investors bring their established distribution networks while expanding their own global production footprint. Output from the planned facilities would supply raw material for the construction, automotive and other downstream aluminium-processing sectors.

Ahmad Zahid said he would instruct the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry to set up a one-stop centre to streamline and facilitate the proposed investments. He noted the plans remain subject to final approval by the Sarawak state government and the federal ministry.

“Several sectors have been identified for cooperation, but I will focus on supporting high-technology manufacturing alongside the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry,” he said. Attracting investment to areas outside established industrial zones is also a key priority, aligned with incentives outlined in the Prime Minister’s 2027 Budget for investments in less developed regions.

Beyond capital inflow, the projects are expected to create skilled employment opportunities for young Malaysians, particularly graduates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. Ahmad Zahid added that TVET providers could deliver training through a factory-based teaching model, allowing local students to build expertise in high-skilled technical fields once the investments materialise.