KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA February 10, 2026 – Chairman of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, took a swipe at critics who question delays in major investment projects by comparing them to building a chicken coop that can be finished in a short time.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on 9 February, Tengku Zafrul opened with an image of himself standing in front of a chicken coop giving a thumbs-up, overlaid with bold text reading “REBAN AYAM LAGI CEPAT SIAP!” (Chicken Coop Gets Built Faster!).
He then explained in detail the construction process for Texas Instruments’ (TI) second factory in Malacca, a project involving potential investment of up to RM5 billion.
“Haaa… building this factory isn’t like building a chicken coop. You plan today, it’s done next week! Building a semiconductor factory takes time: prepare the site, install the machines, test everything is working, only then can it start operating,” Tengku Zafrul said in the video.
He also shared the timeline of TI’s investment:
- June 2023: Additional TI investment announced.
- November 2025: TI’s second factory in Melaka officially opened and began operations.
The new facility has created 500 job opportunities for locals and further strengthened Malaysia’s position in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Tengku Zafrul also addressed the impatience of certain parties, inserting the popular SpongeBob meme “MANA?!” (WHERE?!) to mock the repetitive question “Where’s the investment?” that often surfaces immediately after an approval is announced.
“So, when we announce an investment has been approved, don’t come back the following week asking ‘where? where?’. Real investments take time, but when they’re completed, the impact is significant and tangible,” he stressed.
The video, which also featured images of the modern TI factory and workers in cleanrooms, closed with the slogan “Dari Potensi, Kita Jadikan Realiti” (From Potential, We Make It Reality).
The post has garnered thousands of views and a range of reactions from netizens—some praising Tengku Zafrul’s clear explanation, while others criticised the sarcastic tone of his delivery.
The Texas Instruments investment in Malacca is part of the Madani government’s efforts to attract high-quality investments in the semiconductor sector, which is expected to continue driving Malaysia’s economic growth.
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