Malaysia’s economy to grow 4.5% to 5.5% in 2013, says Ahmad Husni

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is confident the economy can grow between 4.5% and 5.5% this year, with the positive results emerging from the time-tested economic and fiscal policies.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the Government Transformation Programme and the Economic Transformation Plan had yielded encouraging gross domestic product growth.
This has been proven based on the fourth quarter economic performance last year, with the national economy growing at 6.4%, contributing 5.6% in annual growth, he said.
Describing the growth as an “impressive feat” considering the prevailing weak world economy, Ahmad Husni said Malaysia was “buffered” to the highest possible extent from the “toxic effects” of the global economic and financial crises.

“The end-result of our tireless efforts restored investors’ confidence in the future prospects of our economy…enough for them to invest RM135.9bil in 2012 alone,” he told reporters at the Asian Corporate Giants’ Forum.

So far this year, the minister said he was cautiously optimistic because of the “lingering uncertainties” from the protracted economic and financial crises.
“However, if the current situation persists, the country should be able to register a higher growth, with its strength being the domestic economy, in particular domestic investments,” he said.
Ahmad Husni said Malaysia has managed to woo substantial private investments with the launch of the economic transformation programme.

On the supply side, all sectors are also contributing positively to the national economic growth, he added. – Bernama