VERBATIM TEXT

 

OFFICIATING SPEECH

 

BY

 

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER

 

 

AT

 

 

GRAND OPENING CEREMONY

DAISO’S NEW GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER

 

5 NOVEMBER 2026 (THURSDAY) I 11:00 AM

DAISO MALAYSIA GROUP SDN. BHD.

PULAU INDAH, SELANGOR

 

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh and a very good morning,

 

Yang Berhormat Anthony Loke Siew Fook,

Minister of Transport Malaysia;

 

His Excellency Ambassador Noriyuki Shikata,

Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia;

 

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seri Jana Santhiran A/L Muniayan, Secretary General of Transport Malaysia;

 

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Hairil Yahri bin Yaacob,

Secretary General of Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI);

 

Mr. Seiji Yano,

President and Chief Executive Officer of Daiso Industries Co. Ltd.;

 

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Mohd Khairul Adib bin Abd Rahman,

Chairman of Daiso Malaysia Group Sdn. Bhd.;

 

 

Mr. Jun Tomioka,

Managing Director of Daiso Malaysia Group Sdn Bhd;

 

Tetamu yang mulia, saudara-saudari yang dihormati sekalian.

 

1. Hari ini seperti kita sedia maklum menyaksikan suatu lagi perkembangan yang memberi lonjakan kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi yang berpaksi kepada pangkalannya di pelabuhan dan menunjukkan keupayaan seluruh sistem di negara kita membantu menjana pertumbuhan ekonomi.

 

2. Semalam di Petaling Jaya, kita bernasib baik kerana keyakinan syarikat raksasa Amerika Syarikat, Google memutuskan untuk melabur USD15 bilion dan menjadikan Malaysia sebagai pengkalan utama di rantau ini.

 

3. Dan hari ini kita lihat umpamanya Daiso yang menjadikan ini sebagai hub pengangkutan dan pengedaran antara yang terkemuka di rantau ini. Oleh itu saya ucap penghargaan kepada Pelabuhan, kepada menteri dan sektor pengangkutan negara kita kerana menambah ruang dan memberi keyakinan

 

 

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

 

1. Most of you here present in this room and I’m sure Malaysians have possibly bought something from Daiso: a measuring cup, a storage box, a piece of stationery. But behind those low prices is one of the most complex global supply chains in retail.

 

2. So, when a company like Daiso chooses Pulau Indah here as its largest Global Distribution Centre worldwide, it must certainly convey a profound message about the company Daiso and about this country, Malaysia. So Arigato Gozaimasu again, because it is a resounding vote of confidence in Malaysia’s economic stability, infrastructure maturity and your confidence in its long-term potential.

 

3. A Global Distribution Centre like this is built around our ports, roads and people, and once it becomes part of a global supply chain, it stays for the long haul. It brings advanced logistics technology and know-how into the country, and it brings cargo into our ports that is handled here, rather than simply passing through.

 

 

4. That is exactly the kind of investment that we are deliberately targeting. Under the MADANI Economy framework, we seek to raise the ceiling of our economy and raising the floor for all Malaysians.

 

5. So, we do not measure ourselves only by the headline dollar figure of the investment we attract. We also ask whether it creates better-paying jobs, builds local capabilities, links with Malaysian suppliers and supports sustainable development.

 

6. Through the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and our investment incentives, we are increasingly rewarding these more holistic outcomes. Investors fortunate like Daiso, bringing higher value activities, skilled jobs and local partnerships should find Malaysia the most rewarding place to grow. By that measure, this facility is off to a resounding start.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

7. Throughout its history, Malaysia has prospered not only because of its strategic geographical location, but because of its ability to connect the economies of the world. Here in Port Klang around Malacca, it has become an entry port, an international center. Similarly with the Kedah Kingdom and the Malacca Sultanate in the 15^th century, our nation has drawn strength from its position along the Straits of Malacca. But I’m suggesting that it goes beyond that. Clarity of policies, a qualified, disciplined workforce, and attractive policies, proper incentives that could generate more interest across the region and across the world.

 

8. Now, six centuries have passed, fortunately we have seen it in the numbers. Port Klang today, as alluded to by Anthony Loke, handled a record 15.1 million TEUs last year and ranks among the world’s ten busiest container ports. So you have made a good decision, because it has been proven to be efficient. Of course, I always ask my colleagues, my ministers, are you sure we are super efficient? Is there room for improvement? Can you make sure that the authority here in Port Klang can speed up their process, challenge them to be more efficient? And that’s naturally my job. But I will of course deny the fact that I am proud of the capacity here and the performance of the entire team at the port to facilitate the process. But we have to to capture more of the ‘valume that flows through our ports, instead of only the ‘value.

 

9. The Global Distribution Centre shows an example of what that could look like in practice. Goods will be sorted, stored and repacked for different global markets right here in Pulau Indah. This is where the value and the skilled jobs will be located in.

 

10. And that is why we are investing across every mode of transport. At sea, Westports 2 will nearly double Westports’ capacity, and we are planning a future mega-port at Pulau Carey, and we have also insisted that we fasten the process. Now on land, the ECRL and our rail freight network will carry more cargo to our ports and off our highways. In the air, we are expanding airport and air cargo capacity. Through a refreshed National Transport Policy, these will work as one system. So, it’s a major challenge for the Transport Ministry. That is why we have a very, very tough, competent and good Transport Minister. Thank you.

 

11. In many ways, this Global Distribution Centre is a microcosm of Malaysia’s trade story. Goods arrive from around the world, gain value in Malaysia’s shores, and leave for markets far beyond. The Straits of Malacca has steered commercial flows for centuries. Our ambition is to expand it across land, sea and air to make Malaysia a world-class logistics hub.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

12. I understand that this Global Distribution Centre was completed ahead of schedule and below budget. Wah! This can be done only with the Japanese technology. That is a credit to the excellent efforts of the company, the builders, but also evidence of an effective public service delivery system right here in Malaysia. So I must of course, commend Daiso, the Ministry and the workers at all levels in Malaysia, they have proven our ability to do it efficiently and at the faster pace.

 

13. Daiso has brought Malaysian partners such as PKT Logistics Group and domestic hauliers into the heart of its warehousing, freight and distribution operations. This builds local capabilities, encourages technology transfer and creates high-value jobs for our youth. In the longer term, in line with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, we hope to see more Malaysian-made products on Daiso shelves around the world. And I’m sure with the presence of the Chairman here, he will give us some input how it could be facilitated and to benefit the local industry.

 

 

14. Next year, a household in a global city like Dubai or Manila or São Paulo may well pick up a Daiso storage container, glassware, or stationery that was processed and packed right here in Pulau Indah and has passed through our facilities on its way to this centers.

 

15. So, again in closing, I wish to extend my profound gratitude to Daiso Malaysia Group and Daiso Industries for your unwavering trust and partnership. Arigato Gozaimasu. You have been a vibrant part of our business ecosystem, and today, you become an indispensable pillar of our national logistics agenda and infrastructure.

 

16. It is my distinct honour and pleasure to officially declare the Daiso Global Distribution Centre open.

 

Arigato Gozaimasu.