Malaysia
Malaysia achieved commendable successes in the past decades. Real gross domestic product increased by 5.2% during 2001–2020, exceeding the global growth of 3.5% for the same period.
In the Global Competitiveness Report 2019, Malaysia is the 27th most competitive among 141 countries. However, challenges related to globalization, economic liberalization, and rapid expansion of information and communications technology, significantly impacted on Malaysia’s journey to become a fully developed country.
Malaysia is an upper middle-income country with a per capita income of more than $10,300 (2020). Malaysians enjoy a good standard of living. Progress was made toward supporting the poor and vulnerable and addressing social challenges by creating equitable economic opportunities, developing human capital, and enhancing infrastructure and public service delivery. The government also began improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. According to the World Bank’s The Human Capital Index 2020 Update: Human Capital in the Time of COVID-19, Malaysia’s index is 0.61 (the highest was 0.88 in a total of 174 economies).
As with the rest of the world, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) significantly affected the country. Malaysia instituted measures to protect public health and a movement control order that resulted in several businesses closing down. Continued government support helped cushion the effect of the pandemic. In 2021, the government introduced a national recovery plan. The lifting of restrictions allowed economic sectors to operate. With an aggressive vaccination drive, Malaysia succeeded in having one of the highest inoculation rates in the world.
In Malaysia, BIMP-EAGA covers the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan.
Sarawak and Sabah are part of the West Borneo Economic Corridor (WBEC), which also includes Brunei Darussalam and West Kalimantan in Indonesia.
Sabah is part of the Greater Sulu–Sulawesi Corridor (GSSC), which also includes North Sulawesi in Indonesia, and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.
BIMP-EAGA Officials and Contacts in Malaysia
BIMP-EAGA Signing Minister
H.E. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Economy)
Senior Official
Dato’ Saiful Anuar Bin Lebai Hussen
Director General
Economic Planning Unit
Prime Minister's Department
National Secretariat
Dato’ Ahmad Zamri Bin Khairuddin
Director, Regional Development Division
Economic Planning Unit
Prime Minister's Department
Mr. Paarteeben A/L Subramaniam
Deputy Director, Regional Development Division
Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister's Department
Ms. Nurul Ezzah Binti Md. Zin
Assistant Director
Regional Development Division
Economic Planning Unit
Prime Minister's Department
Ms. Nur Diana Fitrah Binti Rahmat
Administrative Officer, Regional Development Division
Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister's Department