MALAYSIA is expected to record a firmer economic performance for the opening quarter of 2026 than previously forecast, according to Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, who signalled that revised data due to be released could surpass the preliminary 5.3 per cent growth estimate issued earlier by the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
The minister said the initial projection had been prepared cautiously at a time when several key economic indicators and datasets had yet to be fully finalised, resulting in gaps that affected the earlier assessment.
“In terms of the projections or estimates that we shared earlier through the Department of Statistics Malaysia, there were still several matters that could not be fully concluded because there were some data gaps.
“So, when the latest data is announced tomorrow, I expect the actual first-quarter growth will not differ greatly from the earlier projection, and may in fact be better than the previous estimate,” he said when commenting on expectations ahead of the official first-quarter 2026 economic announcement.
Akmal made the remarks after attending the launch of the Malaysia Economic Monitor 2026 report published by the World Bank, titled Raising the Ceiling, Raising the Floor: The Jobs Agenda as a Productivity Agenda.
Despite the prospect of improved growth figures, the minister said the government remains cautious over mounting global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, including ongoing disruptions affecting international supply chains.
He acknowledged that current market conditions remain volatile and said he personally preferred to temper excessive optimism when discussing economic projections.
“Personally, I tend to lower the optimistic tone slightly when making growth expectations in order to avoid projections that are too aggressive under uncertain market conditions,” he said.
Nevertheless, he maintained that Malaysia’s economy had continued to demonstrate resilience during the first three months of the year despite external pressures and instability in the global environment.
“I hope the actual results will prove to be stronger,” he added. - May 14, 2026
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