Standard Chartered economists Edward Lee and Jonathan Koh highlight Malaysia’s robust economic performance, noting a 5.2% expansion in 2025 following 5.1% growth in 2024. This momentum is largely attributed to strong domestic sentiment, AI-driven investments, and supportive policies. While the bank forecasts a slight moderation to 4.5% GDP growth in 2026 due to potential tariff impacts—a figure slightly more optimistic than official government projections—upside risks remain thanks to sustained AI demand. regarding monetary policy, despite strong fourth-quarter performance raising speculation about unwinding the July 2025 rate cut, Standard Chartered expects Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to maintain current rates, citing benign inflation and lingering global uncertainties.
Standard Chartered: Malaysia’s Robust Growth to Bolster Ringgit
