MALAYSIA has the capacity to accelerate its development provided it remains firmly anchored in good and clean governance, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said, pointing to stronger-than-expected economic growth as evidence of the country’s resilience.
The Prime Minister, who also serves as Finance Minister, said Malaysia’s economic performance — particularly in the final quarter of last year — had surpassed official projections, underscoring administrative stability and investor confidence in government policy.
“I myself, as Finance Minister, was surprised by the figures we obtained for the final quarter of last year.
“We expected economic growth of around 5.4 to 5.5 per cent, but Malaysia recorded a growth of 6.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year,” he said when officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony for an additional building at Pontian Hospital, held in conjunction with the Rakyat MADANI Carnival.
Anwar stressed that the results were not the product of political propaganda but reflected the strength of Malaysia’s economic fundamentals and the effectiveness of measures introduced by the government.
He attributed the performance in part to the dedication of civil servants and enforcement agencies, whose efforts, he said, had helped to safeguard national stability and sustain progress.
Malaysia, he added, would continue to prosper if its leadership remained steadfast in upholding the principles of sound governance.
Turning to security, Anwar said the fight against crime — including smuggling and drug trafficking — demanded firm leadership and sustained commitment from all quarters.
He also called on Muslims to increase charitable giving and good deeds during Ramadan in order to reinforce unity and social harmony. - February 16, 2026
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