KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened slightly stronger against the US dollar on Thursday, supported by confidence in Malaysia’s economic growth and strong domestic fundamentals, as investors scrutinised the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) decision to maintain interest rates. At 8am, the local currency was trading at 3.9130/9230 against the US dollar, up from Wednesday’s closing level of 3.9175/9235. Today’s opening trade put the ringgit near its strongest level against the US dollar since April 2018, when it hit 3.9030. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the market had generally taken note of the Fed’s decision, with […]

KUALA LUMPUR: Tax refunds in 2025 recorded the highest level in five years, supported by an additional payment of RM7.5 billion in December 2025 compared to the total additional allocation for excess tax refunds of RM4 billion announced previously. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said that for 2025, the total tax refunds settled by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) amounted to RM22.45 billion, involving 3.6 million taxpayers. MOF responded to a question from Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin) regarding tax arrears refunded by the government to taxpayers who overpaid and the number of taxpayers involved. The ministry also said that for […]

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) recorded a proud success when recording the highest net revenue collection post the COVID-19 pandemic, which was RM76.18 billion for the year 2025. Customs Director-General Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin said this achievement proves the ability of the Customs and Excise Department to effectively manage the country’s revenue in an increasingly challenging economic landscape. The collection, he said, not only exceeded the initial target of RM67.25 billion set by the Ministry of Finance, but also surpassed the revised revenue projection in the Federal Government’s Fiscal Review and Revenue Estimate, Budget 2026 which […]

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) international reserves stood at US$124.1 billion as of Nov 14, 2025 compared to US$123.8 billion recorded as of Oct 31, 2025. The central bank, in a statement today, said the reserve position was sufficient to finance 4.8 months of imports of goods and services and 0.9 times the total short-term external debt. The main components of reserves include foreign currency (US$109.6 billion), International Monetary Fund reserves (US$1.3 billion), special drawing rights (SDRs) (US$5.9 billion), gold (US$4.8 billion) and other reserve assets (US$2.5 billion). Total assets were RM617.78 billion, consisting of gold and foreign exchange […]

KEPALA BATAS, Dec 17 — The appointment of Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has been widely described as a timely and strategic decision to strengthen Malaysia’s economic direction amid increasingly complex global challenges. Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — Headline activity in Malaysia’s property market no longer provides a complete picture of underlying market dynamics, as outcomes are now driven by...

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit rose against the US dollar on Monday, supported by better sentiment as reduced expectations of a United States (US) interest rate cut in December eased pressure on the emerging market currency. At 6pm, the ringgit rose to 4.1370/1420 against the US dollar, strengthening from 4.1460/1495 at the close last Friday. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the US Dollar Index (DXY) remained above 100 points, indicating the continued strength of the US dollar as expectations of an interest rate cut in December faded. “However, the ringgit is trading in a […]

By Dalilawati Zainal Behind the dynamism of Malaysia’s food sector is a powerful yet unseen force driven by B40 women, whose determination keeps the informal food economy alive. Working from cramped PPR kitchens and makeshift stalls, they sustain thousands of urban households and underpin entire low-income communities, even as their contributions go largely unrecognised. According to SME Corp’s 2025 statistics, micro-enterprises make up about 70.1 percent of all MSMEs in Malaysia, forming the core of the nation’s entrepreneurial landscape. Although official breakdowns by gender or sector are unavailable, years of community engagement, NGO interventions and academic fieldwork consistently reveal that […]

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s cultural and creative industry is now not just a platform for artistic expression, but has instead emerged as one of the country’s important economic drivers. This development was revealed through the publication of the Cultural and Creative Satellite Account 2024 by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), which for the first time provides a comprehensive overview of the contribution of the cultural and creative sector to the country’s economy based on official data and statistics. Malaysia’s Chief Statistician, Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin, said the cultural and creative industries recorded growth of 7.1 percent or RM130.7 billion in […]

By Veronica Dudei Maia Khongwir BENGALURU (Reuters) -Malaysia’s economy grew at a steady pace last quarter as strong household consumption offset weak exports, a Reuters poll of economists showed. Advance estimates showed the country’s second-quarter gross domestic product was supported by growth in the services and manufacturing sectors, reflecting healthy domestic spending. The economy grew 4.5% year-on-year in the second quarter, in line with a preliminary estimate released in July, according to the August 5 to 12 Reuters poll of 23 economists. Forecasts for the data, due out on Friday, ranged from 3.9% to 4.6%. Growth in the first quarter was 4.4%. "High-frequency data across the board from retail sales, wholesale trade, motor vehicle sales, government spending, all of it suggests there has been a general improvement compared to the first quarter," said Lavanya Venkateswaran, senior ASEAN economist at OCBC Bank. "There is a definite resilience in domestic demand which has manifested in the second quarter, and there’s no sign anything is falling off a cliff just yet," she added. Exports were a weak spot. Trade activity slowed in the quarter with exports falling for a second straight month in June, down 3.5% from a year earlier, the lowest since December 2023 as shipments to China - Malaysia’s largest trading partner - fell 9.3%. That, along with the potential impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 19% import tariffs, is expected to weigh on growth in the months ahead. Bank Negara Malaysia cut interest rates in July for the first time in five years to support the economy due to a weaker outlook and rising global trade uncertainty, raising the prospect of another cut this year. "The rate cut by BNM in its July meeting was cited as ’pre-emptive’ in the face of global uncertainty," said Denise Cheok, an economist at Moody’s Analytics. "The ringgit has remained relatively strong against the greenback in recent months, providing the central bank with room to cut interest rates without raising concerns over currency weakness," she said. A separate Reuters poll forecast Malaysia’s GDP to grow 4.2% in 2025, below the government’s 4.5% to 5.5% target range. With valuations skyrocketing in 2024, many investors are uneasy putting more money into stocks. Unsure where to invest next? Get access to our proven portfolios and discover high-potential opportunities. In 2024 alone, ProPicks AI identified 2 stocks that surged over 150%, 4 additional stocks that leaped over 30%, and 3 more that climbed over 25%. That's an impressive track record. With portfolios tailored for Dow stocks, S&P stocks, Tech stocks, and Mid Cap stocks, you can explore various wealth-building strategies.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is committed to continuing to reduce new debt by 2025 with a projection of approximately RM75 billion, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “The deficit rate has shown a consistent downward trend from year to year and this decline in the deficit means that new government borrowing has also decreased,” he said during the Ministerial Question Time (MQT) session in the Dewan Rakyat today. Anwar explained that new government borrowing has been reduced to approximately RM100 billion (2021), RM99 billion (2022), RM92 billion (2023) and RM77 billion (2024). “The reduction in the fiscal deficit and […]

Why the new peak mattersMalaysia's international reserves climbed to US$122.8 billion as at September 12, 2025, according to Bank Negara...

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The Prime Minister’s Office today said Malaysia’s economy recorded robust growth in 2025, with fourth quarter GDP growing by 5.7 per cent, bringing...

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit continued its strengthening momentum on Friday, opening at another five-year high against the United States (US) dollar amid a short trading week. At 8am, the local unit rose to 4.0410/0495 against the US dollar from 4.0425/0515 at Wednesday’s close. The ringgit once recorded a level of 4.0450/0443 on 26 February 2021. The market was closed yesterday in conjunction with the Christmas Day public holiday. Meanwhile, speaking to Bernama, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist, Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the short trading week following the holiday is expected to see a more gloomy currency market today. […]

Why the ringgit is surging nowMalaysia’s currency has staged one of Asia’s standout performances in 2025. The ringgit has risen...

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 — Malaysia’s Producer Price Index (PPI) eased further by 1.8 per cent in November 2025 from a 0.1 per cent decrease in October 2025, said the Department of...

KUALA LUMPUR: Overall external debt risks remain under control, supported by a good maturity profile and currency profile, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said. The ministry said external debt amounted to RM1.4 trillion or 69.4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as of the end of the third quarter of 2025. He said […]

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Malaysia’s economy grew 4.5% in the second quarter from a year earlier, official advance estimates showed on Friday, sustaining the pace of the previous quarter as strong domestic consumption and steady manufacturing growth offset a slowdown in exports. In the first quarter, gross domestic product growth grew an annual 4.4%, slowing from the end-2024 rate as lower oil and gas production tempered strong household spending and a steady expansion in investments. Growth in the April-to-June period was buoyed by resilient consumer demand despite global headwinds, the statistics department said, flagging economic uncertainties driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff drive. "Overall... the external components of the economy remained challenging, weighed down by surrounding tariff developments and continued global political uncertainties," Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement. The services sector remained the primary driver of economic growth in the quarter, growing 5.3% on-year, while the manufacturing sector rose 3.8%, Mohd Uzir said. Trade activity slowed in May, amid weaker demand in exports, he added. Separate data released on Friday showed exports falling for the second month in a row in June, declining 3.5% from a year earlier after dipping by 1.1% the previous month. Malaysia’s economy grew 5.1% in 2024, driven by domestic demand, record approved investments, and robust exports. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in May that this year’s growth target of between 4.5% and 5.5% was unlikely to be met in the aftermath of the U.S. tariffs. The central bank, which earlier this month cut interest rates for the first time in five years, has also said it would have to lower its growth forecast amid risks to the export-oriented economy from tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Final second-quarter GDP figures are expected to be released on August 15.

KUALA LUMPUR: PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd recorded a lower net profit of RM281.25 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2025 compared to RM335.13 million in the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter under review declined to RM9.53 billion compared to RM9.73 billion previously. “Group revenue for the quarter decreased by RM194.6 million or two percent, mainly due to a six percent decrease in average selling price despite a four percent increase in total sales,” he said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia today. On the outlook, the company said the domestic economy is expected to remain resilient […]

KUALA LUMPUR: The cost of building materials increased in December 2025, driven by higher prices of cement and sand, according to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM). The unit price index for cement increased between 1.2 percent and 3.2 percent compared to the previous month, said DoSM in its Special Release for Building and Structural Construction Works, December 2025. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the highest increase was recorded in Terengganu and Kelantan at 3.2 percent, followed by Penang, Kedah and Perlis at 1.8 percent and Pahang at 1.6 percent. Sand prices also rose […]

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened lower against the United States (US) dollar on Friday as strong US economic data boosted the greenback. At 6pm, the ringgit weakened to 4.0555/0605 against the US dollar from Thursday’s close of 4.0535/0595. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said that the ringgit was generally in a stronger position against the US dollar in the early trading session today, although it did allow for some profit-taking activities. He said while the ringgit may appear to have more room to rise, the main obstacle now is how traders and investors view […]