KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 10): Malaysia may become a more investable market if the government is able to distance itself from markets after politicians and policy makers have enabled transition and transformation of the country, Tantallon Capital Advisors principal Prem Manjooran said on Thursday (Feb 10).

“You hope you get back to the point where politicians can get out of the way and let businesses do their jobs. That is ultimately the hope [for investors].

“Over the last 20 years, politics have become so much more important and with that transition, you lost the ability to invest based on purely business fundamentals because you have to make assessments about political risks which are almost impossible to get right consistently," said Prem, who was speaking at the MIDF Conversations event, which was held virtually.

Prem was responding to MIDF group managing director Datuk Charon Wardini Mokhzani's question on how to make Malaysia investable again.

Charon was the moderator for the MIDF Conversations event.

Prem said the phenomenon of government intervention in markets is not exclusive to Malaysia.

He said the phenomenon has been observed across emerging economies, as politicians and regulators have disproportionate roles to play as the economy goes through deregulation.

Prem said developed markets resulted from government getting out of the way of businesses.