Motorola Solutions eyes Malaysia move - Ahmad Zahid

In a confidence-boosting move for Malaysia, Motorola Solutions is eyeing to shift the operations of two of its facilities to Malaysia where it already has a presence, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He did not name the locations where the facilities are currently located.

The matter was discussed in his meeting with Motorola Solutions chairman and chief executive officer Greg Brown in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) here.

He said he hoped that the state government where the Motorola facilities would be relocated would not claim credit for the proposed move by Motorola Solutions, a leader in mission-critical communications products, solutions and services for communities and businesses.

"It truly is a commitment on the part of the company to the federal government," Ahmad Zahid told Malaysian media covering his working visit to New York where he is leading the Malaysian delegation to UNGA.

It was also, he said, a nod to the country's education system and long-term planning to mould a skilled and semi-skilled workforce as well as professionals.

Malaysia's focus on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) had been cited as one of the factors for that decision, he said.

The deputy prime minister said Motorola Solutions vowed to continue with its transfer of technology and off-set programmes as well as training programmes to enhance the workforce development process.

"We appreciate this vote of confidence in our country as Motorola Solutions also believes that the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is something that will benefit Malaysia," he said.

The TPP involves 12 countries, namely the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru.

The pact aims to deepen economic ties between these nations, slashing tariffs and fostering trade to boost growth.

Ahmad Zahid said Brown disagreed with claims that the TPP would only benefit advanced economies for he felt that other countries too would stand to gain from it.

"He was hopeful that the incoming US leadership will continue the work of the outgoing president and that no one will jeopardise the TPP," he said. -- BERNAMA