郭鶴年說：大馬華人是辛苦奮鬥的勤奮民族，他們的財富完全是依靠自己的勞力和犧牲換取，絕對不是不勞而獲！
郭鶴年在接受英文星報書面專訪時強調：
執政者卻只想坐享其成，看到那些大型華資企業非常成功而產生妒忌，通過不公平的特權政策強制收購華人辛苦創業的心血；這是不對的。這已經造成許多大馬華資企業家紛紛出走，他們選擇將資金轉移到香港、新加坡、中國大陸甚至美國、澳洲和歐洲，因為他們認為他們的資金和企業江山在那些國家和地區會比較安全，不必擔心政治黑手巧取豪奪他們的畢生心血。
事實上，郭鶴年本身就是一個對馬來西亞經商前景失望透頂而選擇出走的大企業家。他的企業王國總部設在香港，業務重心在香港、新加坡、中國大陸及歐美，在印度尼西亞和泰國也有大量原產業投資項目。唯獨他自己的祖國馬來西亞，投資項目卻不斷萎縮，糖廠沒了、稻米生意沒了、麵粉廠也沒了，現在連電影院線GSC 也打算變賣了；僅僅剩下香格里拉大酒店、Massimo 麵包廠和遍布東馬的油棕種植業。
近年來郭鶴年在全球各地動作頻頻，大型發展計劃、投資計劃不斷推陳出新，偏偏就是對馬來西亞的投資沒興趣；其中的原因，大家都心知肚明。
過去20多年來，大馬許多華資企業逐漸被政府官聯公司GLC和有巫統執政黨幕後支持的馬來企業朋黨使用各種軟硬兼施手段併吞。從80年代的肯德基家鄉雞、已故丹斯理張國林的龍馬控股、已故丹斯理林梧桐大女婿的南方銀行，到廣益銀行、馬婆金融、合眾銀行、產業巨頭SP SETIA等等，同哦那個落入馬來人手裡。而郭鶴年本身擁有顯著股權的玻璃市糖廠、關丹麵粉廠、聯邦麵粉廠、Gardenia麵包廠、國家稻米公司，也全被巫統朋黨企業《精英》強硬收購。
國陣政府推行的嚴重偏差《新經濟政策》是導致海外企業不願前來投資、大馬非土著商家撤資出走的最主要關鍵。政府官員的效率越來越低下，行政效率九流的現象，更進一步讓國內外企業投資者產生悲觀看法，對大馬國家經濟前景普遍看淡。
實際上，大馬政府講一套做一套、毫無誠信的表現也令華裔商家心寒。大馬政府這邊廂告訴人民他們將竭盡所能吸引外國商家和投資者到來投資設廠創造就業機會；另一邊廂卻又大肆打壓欺凌本地華裔商家，對他們窮盡畢生心血創立的企業江山巧取豪奪，迫使他們放棄大馬市場，將大量資產轉往海外。
郭鶴年在接受大馬英文星報書面訪問時說，馬來西亞的未來前景好壞，完全得依賴經濟發展。若政府能吸引大量外資、激發經濟活水，則大馬前景依然看好；但若大馬政府不斷以偏差的政策對待華商令非土著資金與人才外流，同時沒有大量外匯流入大馬經濟市場的話，那麼，大馬經濟將深陷無底洞，短期內看不到希望。
不過，郭鶴年同時意有所指的說：只有等到那些貪污腐敗和權力狂的黑手停止掠奪國家財產，馬來西亞才有機會重新站起來謀求發展，否則馬來西亞將繼續沉淪。
雖然郭老沒有指名道姓，但是大家都很清楚他指的是哪些巫統政棍。
ROBERT KUOK GIVES UMNO A GOOD TICKING OFF: WHATEVER THE CHINESE OWN, THEY PAID FOR IT. THEY DID NOT GET IT FOR FREE
Encapsulating thoughts of Robert Kuok on Malaysia.
Malaysia’s tycoons are investing heavily overseas instead of re-investing in Malaysia.
This definitely does not bode well for the country & her citizens.
As history past decades has shown, many of the Chinese businesses have been taken over by either GLCs or Malay businessmen aligned with politicians.
Bit by bit , many of the huge family corporations and big businesses are leaving for safer havens such as Singapore or Hong Kong, where they feel their fortunes and business empires are relatively safe and secure from greedy hands.
Come to think of it, it’s an oxymoron.
On one hand, the Malaysian government tells us that they are trying to attract foreign investors / investments..
On the other, they are pushing away local investors (many of whom happens to be of Chinese ethnicity).
Another interesting reply from Robert Kuok in a Star interview below: …
Asked about the sense of discrimination among the Chinese in Malaysia, Kuok demurred, saying:
“This will lead only to highly controversial statements, which is not good for anybody.
It may cause grief or hurt those Chinese who are living in Malaysia, one must never be the cause of any kind of inter-racial hostility.
To me, the future of Malaysia rests on the economy. It always has.
Only when the greedy grabbing of wealth & power stops, will Malaysia have a chance to progress.
Else, it will go downhill.
For now, the people can afford to make noise on a full stomach. Wait till their stomachs are empty.
All the racial & religious issues will lead to conflict when the economy tanks.
And it is prudent for politicians to stop playing up these issues, before they really get out of hand.
I’m not raising these points because these businesses are owned by the Chinese.
Businessmen are businessmen.Particularly the big fishes in the Chinese community.
Their wealth do not belong to all the Chinese. The point is, regardless of ethnicity, a growing economy is important to sustain this country.
More so for the Chinese whom are largely in the private sector. And many, many Chinese these days are losing hope.
The Malaysian economy and the Malays
Before the Malays start accusing & calling the Chinese unkind names, maybe they ought to pause and consider about how far they have come with a growing affluent middle-class and benefiting from affirmative policies.
It does not come free. It does not come solely from petro-money. It came from a strong and stable economy.
Indirectly, It came from sacrifices by the normal non-Malays who had to give up some of their rights.
It came from the risks non-Malays had to make to build up their businesses, and then share it with Malay businessmen.
Whatever the Chinese own, they paid for it. They did not get it for free.
Some had to borrow from loan-sharks.,taking most of the risks. Most sacrificed family time.
Not all benefitted and became wildly successful. Some lost everything, fortunes & family.
At the lower spectrum, they sacrificed years working overseas illegally to save enough to buy their home & capital for business.