Selangor Remains As The Main Economic Driver For The Country

Selangor contributed about 23.0% of Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP), making the state the main economic driver for the country in 2017, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Dr Wan Ismail said today.

“In line with the global economic growth in 2017, Malaysia has recorded a stronger GDP growth of 5.9% last year, as compared to 4.2% in 2016.

“The robust achievement is mirrored by the better economic performance for most of the states in the country. Selangor remains as the main national economic driver, as it consists of 23% of the national GDP, followed by Kuala Lumpur with about 15.6%,” Wan Azizah said during the launching of two inaugural publications of the Department of Statistics at the Multimedia University.

There were seven states that outpaced the national GDP growth rate in 2017, namely Sabah (8.2%), Melaka (8.1%), Pahang (7.8%), Kuala Lumpur (7.4%), Selangor (7.1%), Johor (6.2%) and Labuan (6.1%).

On the other hand, Perlis had the lowest GDP growth in 2017 at 2.3%, while Penang is the only state which saw a slower GDP growth in 2017 at 5.3%, as compared to 5.6% in 2016.

The GDP per capita at the national level rose to RM42,218 in 2017, from RM38,915 in 2016. Kuala Lumpur (RM111,321), followed by Labuan (RM65,949), Penang (RM49,873), Sarawak (RM49,327), Selangor (RM48,091) and Melaka (RM46,015) surpassed the national level.

Kelantan recorded the the lowest GDP per capita at RM13,593.

Three sectors that recorded positive growth which helped drive performances of several states are services, manufacturing and agriculture, based on the State Socio-Economic Report.

These states who saw growth in these sectors are Pahang (whose growth accelerated to 7.8% in 2017, from 2.0% in 2016); Selangor (7.1% from 4.8%); Johor (6.2% from 5.7%); Perak (5.5% from 4.1%); and Kelantan (5.0% from 4.8%).

Other than these three sectors, robust performance in the construction sector also spurred Melaka’s economy (whose growth rose to 8.1% in 2017, from 4.5% in 2016); Terengganu (5.9% from 3.1%); and Negeri Sembilan (4.9% from 3.5%).

Kedah’s economy rose to 5.0% (2016: 3.2%), driven by the agriculture and services sectors, while Kuala Lumpur’s growth increased to 7.4% (2016: 5.9%), largely driven by the services sector.

The economic growth in East Malaysia was driven by the performance of commodity-based sectors such as agriculture, and mining & quarrying. Sabah recorded a growth of 8.2% (2016: 4.7%), while Sarawak improved to 4.7% (2016: 2.3%).

[Source]