KUALA LUMPUR. MALAYSIA December 20, 2025 – Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has welcomed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest evaluation of Malaysia’s economic performance, highlighting the country’s resilience in a turbulent global environment.
In a statement posted on social media, Anwar expressed appreciation for the IMF’s recognition of Malaysia’s steady growth despite escalating trade tensions and policy uncertainties worldwide. The IMF’s mission team, concluding its 2026 Article IV consultations on December 19, praised Malaysia’s economy for expanding at a healthy pace in 2025, driven by robust domestic consumption, investment, solid employment growth, and a boost from the global technology sector.
IMF Mission Chief Masahiro Nozaki noted that this strong performance reflects prudent macroeconomic policies maintained by the authorities. The fund projects Malaysia’s GDP growth at 4.6% for 2025, with a slight moderation to 4.3% in 2026, primarily due to anticipated higher U.S. tariffs. Inflation has remained low, averaging 1.4% from January to October 2025, and is expected to stabilise around 2% in the long term.
Anwar emphasised that, in an increasingly challenging world, the MADANI Government’s focus remains on ensuring economic stability is responsibly managed and directly benefits the people through secure, fair job opportunities and sustained public confidence in the future.
“The MADANI Government will continue to manage public finances prudently and accelerate reforms under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan, so that the growth we build is truly strong, resilient, and delivers meaningful benefits to all Malaysians,” Anwar stated in both Malay and English.
The Prime Minister’s response aligns with the IMF’s commendation of ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts, including plans to reduce the deficit further, and calls for deeper structural reforms to enhance inclusive growth.
The positive IMF assessment comes as Malaysia navigates external risks such as protectionism and potential slowdowns in global demand, while leveraging strengths like the October 2025 Malaysia-U.S. trade deal to mitigate uncertainties.
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