KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Corporation Berhad was cited as an example of successful cross-border investment during a debate on the future of Britain’s utility sector, with panellists pointing to the Malaysian company’s ownership of Wessex Water as evidence of the benefits of international capital markets.
Speaking during a discussion on GB News, one panellist defended foreign investment in essential utilities, arguing that YTL’s investment had delivered value not only to the company but also to institutional investors in the United Kingdom.
He said that while managing British pension funds, including the City of Edinburgh Pension Fund, investments in YTL generated returns for pensioners through dividends derived from Wessex Water’s operations.
According to the panellist, the arrangement demonstrated how global capital markets allocate investment efficiently by enabling long-term infrastructure assets to attract funding while providing sustainable returns for investors.
He also defended YTL’s stewardship of Wessex Water, saying the company had invested substantially in upgrading and maintaining the utility’s infrastructure.
“Wessex Water is one of the best water companies in the country,” he said, adding that the company’s performance reflected the long-term investment made by its shareholders.
The discussion arose amid calls by some commentators for Britain’s utilities to be returned to public ownership. Supporters of nationalisation argued that strategic assets such as water, gas and electricity should remain under domestic control.
However, advocates of the current investment model countered that renationalising utility companies would require significant public expenditure and ultimately place a heavier financial burden on taxpayers.
The debate highlighted YTL Corporation’s role as one of the few Malaysian companies managing critical infrastructure assets in a developed market, underscoring its presence in the global investment landscape and the growing recognition of Malaysian corporations in international infrastructure ownership.
