Malaysia defends control

Malaysia defends control

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's deputy trade minister said
foreign investors remain confident about the country's outlook
despite criticism of government policies by the International
Monetary Fund and foreign media organizations, a report said
Sunday.

Kerk Choo Ting, deputy minister of international trade and
industry, said Malaysia's ability to post a US$15 billion trade
surplus last year and attract foreign investment over the past
two years amid a regional economic slump shows it is on the right
track, Bernama national news agency reported.

"Major investors like the United States, Japan, Taiwan, the
European Union and Singapore continue to plow their money into
Malaysia," he was quoted as saying.

Kerk dismissed attacks on Malaysia's use of currency controls
by the Washington-based IMF and unnamed commentators who
allegedly spoke out against the foreign exchange restrictions in
broadcasts on CNN and CNBC, the report said.