Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Finance of Malaysia has said that it is currently working with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living and observing how they would be able to readjust the pricing of imported goods, following the continued strengthening of the ringgit.
Malaysia's Second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan said that since early last year, the ringgit has strengthened 14% on average against the US dollar and 6.5–7% against other major currencies.
While the stronger ringgit benefits imports, it does not automatically translate into lower retail prices due to cost increases in recent years, prompting the Malaysian Government to reassess pricing mechanisms for imported products, he said.
Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia show the Southeast Asian economy maintains robust momentum, with GDP expanding 6.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 5.2% for the whole year – among the highest growth rates in ASEAN.
Amir Hamzah attributed the performance to the effectiveness of the Government’s broad-based economic reforms, including social protection measures and targeted policy interventions to ensure that growth benefits all segments of society.
The firmer currency and improved economic fundamentals have also bolstered public confidence, reflected in stronger consumption, improved liquidity and overall macroeconomic stability.
However, he stressed that the Malaysian Government’s top priority remains strengthening long-term economic resilience, attracting high-quality investment and ensuring that development gains are shared by the people./.
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