KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — Malaysia’s economy is expected to return to positive growth this year, along with other economies globally on the sustained progress in the vaccine rollouts that will boost consumption worldwide, the World Bank Group said.

Its Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice lead economist, Richard Record said the group expects the vaccine deployment can be mostly completed in 2021 in most economies, leading to strong recovery and demand, as well as boosting trade and commodity prices.

"We are projecting a global growth of 4.0 per cent this year. As for Malaysia, we project economic growth this year to range between 5.6 and 6.7 per cent,” he said during the virtual 2021 Malaysia’s Economic and Strategic Outlook Forum (MESOF) titled: "The Post-Covid-19 New Normal — Where Do We Go From Here” today.

MESOF is organised by KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and co-organised by the Malaysian International Chambers Of Commerce & Industry and Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur.

Record noted that China is among the reasons of growth recorded by the Asian economies and Malaysia included.

However, he cautioned the downside risks to growth is the slow progress of the vaccine deployment and new containment that could lead to another movement control order, adding that consumption is the largest part of the Malaysian economy.

"Risks to growth outlook include the unexpected delay in vaccine rollout, ineffective containment, elevated number of vulnerable households and domestic political uncertainty.

"In the near-term, policies should focus on containing the outbreak and protecting the most vulnerable and on re-building fiscal buffers as economic conditions improve,” he added.

World Bank's Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice lead economist, Richard Record, cautioned the downside risks to growth is the slow progress of the vaccine deployment and new containment that could lead to another movement control order, adding that consumption is the largest part of the Malaysian economy. — Picture by Hari Anggara

Another panellist, Shan Saeed, chief economist of Juwai IQI Global, said the Malaysian government continues to maintain macroeconomic stability which is moving faster and has surprised the market participants.

"The government is in total control of the economy and will continue to support when required by the economy. Amalgamation of fiscal and monetary policy levers hold the key for economic growth and Bank Negara Malaysia has lot of room to manoeuvre in the monetary landscape,” he opined.

Shan noted that the central bank would use tactical and strategic moves to maintain structural stability in the local currency.

Echoing Record, Shan expects the Malaysian economy to follow China’s dual-circulation strategy to support local businesses and to encourage aggregated demand at the macro level.

Sharing some of his key statistics, he said the Brent crude oil is expected to trade between US$50 to US$70 per barrel, which could help support the ringgit trading at 3.67 to 4.10 per US dollar.

On the gross domestic product, he is a bit modest, seeing the number to hover between 3.0 to 4.0 per cent while the central bank is expected to keep the overnight policy rate at one to 1.75 per cent in 2021.

Department of Statistics Malaysia chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said inflation is likely to make a comeback in 2021 after a deflationary trend this year as the Covid-19 pandemic suppressed demand for goods and services. — Picture by Meira Zulyana

Meanwhile, Department of Statistics Malaysia chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the Malaysian Economic Outlook 2021 forecasts the country external trade to grow by 3.9 per cent, with exports of goods expected to increase by 2.7 per cent as a result of the recovery in global trade and supply chains, while imports are expected to rise by 5.3 per cent, contributed by improvement in all types of imports.

"Inflation is likely to make a comeback in 2021 after a deflationary trend this year as the Covid-19 pandemic suppressed demand for goods and services.

"This is thanks to the early rollout of a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine and unleashing of pent-up demand in conjunction with supply shortages, which could result in an inflation comeback,” he said.

Quoting the Ministry of Finance, Mohd Uzir said inflation is projected at 2.5 per cent versus the -1.13 per cent in 2020, signalling a stronger surge in consumer spending.

On the total labour force, he said it is projected to remain at 1.1 per cent while unemployment rate is projected to decrease to 3.5 per cent in 2021 compared with an estimation 4.5 per cent in 2020, as the country’s economy is expected to rebound firmly in 2021 after a dismal performance in 2020 due to the pandemic. — Bernama