Amir Hamzah said demand for the ringgit rose in tandem with higher capital inflows and a pick-up in approved investments, which have reached record levels in recent years. He said the Government’s Madani economic agenda was beginning to show results, particularly in the labour market and incomes. The unemployment rate fell to 2.9% in November 2025, the lowest in 11 years, alongside stronger growth and higher investments. Approved investments for the first nine months of 2025 reached RM285.2bil, up 13.2% compared with the same period in 2024, after Malaysia posted record approvals of RM329.5bil in 2023 and RM384.4bil in 2024. Amir Hamzah said Malaysia’s fiscal consolidation and structural reforms have gained international recognition, with the International Monetary Fund acknowledging the country’s efforts in its December 2025 report.

Source: The Star February 04, 2026 16:25 UTC