Mahathir calls SG4 a dormant powerhouse with untapped economic promise

At the SG4 Business and Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, unable to attend due to illness, delivered a speech via his son Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, labeling the SG4 initiative a "sleeping giant" poised to become a major economic hub. He noted the combined population of 5.7 million and over 38,000 sq km of territory give the four states—Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis—significant leverage.

Mahathir outlined each state's focus: Kedah aims to become a manufacturing centre, Kelantan seeks to commercialise agriculture, Terengganu explores downstream petroleum activities, and Perlis looks to boost cross-border trade. He stressed the need to add value to rare-earth elements rather than simply export them, and urged public participation, support for local entrepreneurs, and strict anti-corruption measures. The forum, themed "Four States. One Economic Vision," gathered state leaders, investors and industry experts to discuss investment and cooperation, with SG4 Group Sdn Bhd holding equal stakes from each state.