M’sia registers modest GDP growth of 4.6 pct in Q1 2011

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded a modest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 4.6 per cent for the first quarter of 2011, against 10.1 per cent registered in the corresponding quarter last year, driven by strong domestic and improved external demand.

In 2010, the country recorded a GDP growth of 7.2 per cent and a moderate 4.8 per cent in the final quarter of the year.

Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said the moderation in growth between the fourth quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of this year was due to external emerging risks, among them, the natural disaster in Japan, ongoing European Union sovereign debt concern, elevated commodity prices and global inflationary pressures.

“Aggregate domestic demand improved 6.6 per cent compared with 6.2 per cent recorded in the fourth quarter of last year,” she said when announcing the first quarter GDP results here yesterday.

Zeti also said higher commodity prices and sustained regional growth had also improved external demand, with a broad based expansion in exports, led by higher commodity and sustained non-electrical and electronic exports. — Bernama