KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Malaysia continues to be crucial for American businesses operations in Asean region, driven by the quality of infrastructure and reasonable office lease costs, said American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (Amcham).

Amcham, in its Asean Business Outlook Survey 2015, said 77 per cent of the respondents in Malaysia expected a profit increase in 2015, up from 53 per cent last year, 70 per cent planned to expand and 52 per cent expected an increase in the workforce.

The survey was unveiled by president, Sanjeev Nanavati, today.

From a total of 588 respondents from Amcham member companies across the Asean region, 60 were from Malaysia, representing small, medium and large US companies operating in the country.

Sanjeev, however, said the level of satisfaction with those factors had decreased since last year, along with level of satisfaction with the government entities handling customs, immigration and taxation.

“It is important that the government continues to provide a business-friendly environment so that the companies can help Malaysia become a regional hub and centre of excellence, particularly as the country continues to face new challenges and opportunities moving up the value chain,” he said.

The survey also found substantial concerns and impediments to the companies’ growth in the Asean region, with corruption and personal securities remained the top issues across all ‎countries except Brunei and Singapore.

American companies also pointed out burdensome laws and regulations, lack of transparency, poor quality of infrastructures and the difficulty in moving products through customs in some countries as obstacles to greater investment.

On the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, the survey showed that 97 per cent of respondents in Malaysia said it would help or have a neutral effect on their companies’s regional trade investment.

Meanwhile, Sanjeev said the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax next year was good for the government’s finances and long term health of the country.

“The government will be able to do a lot of things that are good for business with the tax,” he said. — Bernama