00:00the second on the financial sector topic, and the last on other topics.
00:04If you have any questions, please raise your hand.
00:07In the first quarter of 2026, the Malaysia economy recorded a firm growth of 5.4%.
00:15This was supported by sustained household spending, steady investment activities,
00:22and continued export growth, supported by E&E, travel, and ICT-related services.
00:30On the expenditure side, the continued expansion in domestic demand was driven mainly by the private sector.
00:38Private final consumption expenditure which accounted for 61.6% of Malaysia GDP grew 4.7%
00:48supported by persistent tourism-related activities, positive labour market condition, and continued policy support.
00:57Despite the heightened geopolitical tensions and the global uncertainties,
01:02the Malaysian economy is expected to remain growing within the forecast range of between 4% to 5%.
01:11Malaysia's strong fundamentals will continue to underpin the economy's resilience.
01:16Domestic demand is expected to remain strong, driven by sustained household spending and forthcoming investments.
01:23Headline inflation rose to 1.6% during the quarter, in part reflecting initial pass-through of higher global cost
01:31pressure.
01:32This is with expectation.
01:34And the surge in global energy prices led to higher domestic fuel prices in March,
01:39namely for Ron 97 and the unsubsidised diesel, contributing to the increase in headline inflation.
01:47Nevertheless, this was partly offset by the lower core inflation, which moderated to 2.1%,
01:54suggesting that underlying inflation remained moderate amid the steady demand conditions.
02:00Our fundamentals remain strong. Fundamentals in terms of our economy continue to grow,
02:06our unemployment is at the lowest levels in years,
02:10investment activity is still ongoing,
02:12and most importantly, the measures in place to mitigate impact and support are still there.
02:18The reforms that we have taken over the years have also provided buffers
02:22that place us in a relatively better position as well.
02:25And we know that some segments may be affected a bit more,
02:28but help is always there to support this segment itself.
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