Malaysia Growth Could Reach 5.7% in 2026, Economists Say

Kuala Lumpur, 24 September 2026 – Two economists have put Malaysia’s 2026 economic growth as high as an average 5.7%, a projection that would exceed several institutional forecasts if manufacturing, construction and investment retain their current momentum. Paolo Casadio of Asia Strategic Consulting and Geoffrey Williams of Williams Business Consultancy also see fourth-quarter growth reaching 5.9%. Their figures are forecasts, not official results, and the difference from other projections underscores how much the outlook depends on the second half of the year.

The Asian Development Bank this week lifted its Malaysia forecast to 4.9% for 2026 and 4.7% for 2027, citing semiconductor demand and data-centre investment while warning that higher energy costs and external uncertainty could restrain activity. That makes the 5.7% estimate a more optimistic scenario rather than a consensus baseline. Investors should compare the assumptions behind each forecast, especially export volumes, construction delivery and private spending, rather than treat the largest number as a settled outcome.