Malaysia - Malaysia's economy expands 5.2% in Q3

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's economy grew a better-than-expected 5.2 per cent in the third quarter as domestic demand continued to compensate for a slowdown in exports, the government said on Friday.

The central bank said Southeast Asia's third-largest economy expanded due to private consumption and private and public investment in such sectors as transportation, oil and gas, and public utilities.

This managed to offset a further decline in demand abroad for the export-reliant country's goods and services as its key partners, such as the US and Europe, are struggling amid the global economic crisis.

"Going forward, the more challenging international environment would present risks to Malaysia's growth prospects," Bank Negara said in a statement.

"Nevertheless, domestic demand is expected to continue to be the anchor of growth, supported by the expansion in private consumption and investment. Public spending and investment activity are also expected to lend support to growth," it added.

Malaysia's economy grew a faster-than-expected 5.4 per cent in the second quarter, and a revised 4.9 per cent in the first quarter.

Bank Negara has previously forecast full-year growth between four and five per cent, slower than the 5.1 per cent seen last year.

Alan Tan, an economist with Affin Investment Bank, said he was revising his expectations for full-year growth to five percent as the third quarter figure was better than the 4.9 per cent that had been expected.

"The 5.2 per cent is driven mainly by healthy domestic demand driven by private investment and consumption. We expect this trend to continue into the fourth quarter," he said.

Inflation moderated to 1.4 per cent in the third quarter, down from 1.7 per cent in the second quarter, the central bank said.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, who must face a strengthening opposition in elections by mid-2013, has set a goal of Malaysia becoming a "high-income developed nation" by 2020.

He has previously said the economy needs to expand six per cent annually to reach that target.

- AFP/ms

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