Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia saw an 18.8 per cent jump in investments in the first quarter of 2015.
Primary, services and manufacturing sectors recorded RM57.4 billion worth of approved investments between January and March.
The manufacturing sector led with RM33.6 billion, accounting for 58.5 per cent of the total.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Malaysia showed it was still able to hold on in an increasingly competitive environment.
"This is an excellent performance but we must sustain the momentum.
"Competition has risen and we need to ensure that we stay one step ahead," he told a media briefing.
On the investments, he noted the bulk came from domestic sources which contributed RM47.4 billion or 82.6 per cent of the total.
The Petronas project in Pengerang, Johor, to build a refinery and cracker plant as well as expansion and diversification by existing electrical and electronics (E&E) manufacturers.
Almost 75 per cent of the E&E projects in the period will export 80 per cent of their products.