“And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth.”
(Al-A’raf, verse 96)
For every investor, a ‘fertile land’ is the first thing to look at. They will look for a place where the profit can be fully maximized. This factor is even more important for a global company competing in a global market. And ROHM-Wako Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is a leading global company in electronics from Japan.
ROHM-Wako has been in Malaysia for quite a long time. They started off at Shah Alam, Selangor in 1989 before subsequently moved their factory to Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang. And then again in 1993, they opted to move their factory to Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan. They have a total workforce of 2,100 at that time. And for this latest move, they chose to ‘stick around’.
Since then, they enjoyed a period of prosperity from a business point of view. Hence in 2017, they decided to make a further RM270 million investment in Kelantan. The factory was made bigger, and they employed a further 500 employees.
This investment is again proven to be fruitful.
This lead to their major announcement last March, that they will again make a fresh investment in Kelantan with a staggering amount of RM910 million. They will continue to make bigger facilities, with additional new hiring of 400 skilled workers.
This history of ROHM-Wako investment is important for two factors.
Firstly, Kelantan is perceived as a ‘poor state with poor infrastructures’; impossible of being a ‘fertile land for investment’.
In light of ROHM-Wako consistent big investments in Kelantan, one ought to make a conclusion that such perception would appropriately be classified as ‘rubbish’. It’s a stern wording, but a justified one.
Why would a leading global company from Japan made such decisions if the perception is indeed true. The only logical answer is the perception is not true, and Kelantan is indeed a ‘fertile land for investment’.
And this logical answer will be further strengthened by the second interesting point of ROHM-Wako’s latest investment.
The latest investment was big, and it was made amid the ongoing recovery of global economy. But still, ROHM-Wako firmly believed that to invest in Kelantan at such a time, is a right decision. It should be noted that this is a decision coming from a company with vast experience by their previous ventures in Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United Kingdom, China, the Philippines, and France.
With all the experience, ROHM-Wako gave an indirect endorsement and sending signals to the world, that this state named Kelantan, has a ‘fertile land for investment’.
And typical for an experienced company, they always have a ‘special touch’.
ROHM-Wako has a culture where the overall enrichment of life of its employees is a priority. Many Kelantanese who are working with ROHM-Wako are given the priceless opportunity to gain experience and hone their skills in Japan and its various other factories around the world. They even have their own mini market at the factory just for the benefit of the employees.
In a sense, perhaps this similarity that they shared with the Islamic approach by the Kelantan government in putting the overall wellness of human life and encouraged them to always be better that formed the ‘invisible bond’ that ROHM-Wako have with Kelantan. Making them want to stay, making them want to further invest, and prosper together.
Conclusion
It is apparent that investors are now starting to believe in Kelantan. Other foreign investors as CMNM Mining Group from Singapore, Esquel from Hong Kong, and Manakas from Germany are among others currently investing in Kelantan.
Local companies and foreign companies are currently employing around 50,000 workers in Kelantan. Bringing along a sense of economic prosperity in Kelantan.
Last year, the amount of investment made in Kelantan was RM1.6 billion. And the figure spiked significantly this year coming from ROHM-Wako alone with RM910 million and a further RM2.23 billion from Nextgreen Global.
And for my fellow Kelantanese, let us all hold firmly to verse already mentioned above:
“And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth.”
(Al-A’raf, verse 96)
This PAS government in Kelantan has proved that Islam can lead. And Islam must lead. And from this belief, the economy will prosper.
MUHAMMAD NABIL ZULKIFLI
Darulnaim Research Centre – HARAKAHDAILY 11/4/2022
