SINGAPOREANS comprise the largest number of visitors to the country and now, Malaysia wants them to be the No. 1 in investments as well.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamad said the Government is working hard to ensure that Singaporeans, who are currently ranked fourth, become the country's leading investors.

"If in tourism, they can be number one, why not in investment too"

"The Singaporeans are investing all over the world. Why not choose us?" he told reporters, adding that as at July this year, investors from the republic had put in US$408 million (S$566.59).

The top investors in Malaysia are the United States, Japan and Europe while overall, Singaporeans had invested a total of RM19 billion (S$7.82 billion).

Mustapa said the Government would revive the Malaysia-Singapore Business Council, which had become inactive over the past few years, to promote more business activities.

"We will have to get people, who have the time and commitment, to promote investment in both countries," he said after having a breakfast meeting with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) here yesterday.

The meeting was attended by a 18-member delegation from Singapore, headed by Minister in the Prime Minister's office Lim Hwee Hua and SBF chairman Tony Chew.

Mustapa said Singaporeans were receptive to the idea of more investments in Malaysia, especially after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's talk at the Apec CEO Conference.