Malaysia on track for third straight year of GDP growth above 5pc, says Amir Hamzah

Malaysia is on pace for its third consecutive year of GDP growth exceeding 5 percent, according to Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. Prime Minister's Office reported Malaysia's GDP grew by 5.1 percent in 2024 and 5.2 percent in 2025, with a preliminary estimate of 5.3 percent growth for the third quarter of 2026.

This growth reflects the government's efforts through the Madani Economic framework, which aims to raise the country's economic "ceiling" and create more job opportunities. The government is also working to strengthen the "floor" of the economy to ensure the benefits of growth reach a wider population. Budget 2027 includes measures to raise people's incomes, such as increasing the minimum wage and encouraging fairer wages from government-linked investment companies and companies.

The government also recognizes that not all citizens will directly benefit from economic growth, so it will continue to strengthen targeted assistance like the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah programs. The Payung Rahmah initiative has been intensified to help address cost-of-living pressures. The Finance Run 2026, which attracted over 2,000 participants, was postponed due to the haze but still successfully took place, promoting teamwork and camaraderie among Finance Ministry staff and personnel from its agencies.