Zeti: Malaysia on steady growth path
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.7 per cent last year reflects the country’s steady growth path, says Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) chairman Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.
“I always said that growth between four to six per cent is a steady growth path. Malaysia, despite the challenging economic environment, remains on a steady growth path,” she said on the sidelines of the Nomura Islamic Asset Management 10th Anniversary Investment Forum, here, yesterday.
Zeti said this year’s projection should be as good, if not better.
With the 4.7 per cent growth, Malaysia’s GDP is now valued at RM1.23 trillion at constant prices and RM1.43 trillion at current prices.
Zeti said while economists and research houses projected lower GDP growth for this year, PNB’s dividend would not be impacted by a possible slowdown in the economy, driven by the fund manager’s diversified investment portfolio.
“Investment is all about diversification. The idea is to achieve sustainable returns and I have full confidence in the PNB team to put in their best efforts to achieve sustainable returns.”
Zeti said the formation of the Economic Action Council (EAC) is a great opportunity to get the economy going.
Asked about the top priority to be discussed during the EAC’s first meeting, Zeti said, “I want to save it when the meeting commences in the next few weeks. It will be very soon”.
Last Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the appointment of 16 members of EAC and that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would chair the meeting.
Other members include Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ignatius Darell Leiking, Works Minister Baru Bian and Prime Minister’s economic adviser Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid.