KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today cited Malaysia’s trade performance as proof that his Madani Economic Framework is on the right trajectory, as he addressed the Opposition’s scepticism towards his economic policies.
January-September trade rose 4.4 per cent to RM2.235 trillion year-on-year, according to data from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, released last month, the highest ever recorded in value terms.
Anwar said the increase was despite the volatility wrought by US President Donald Trump‘s so-called Liberation Day levies.
Malaysia had its US-bound exports slapped with a 25 per cent tariff before the recently signed Agreement on Reciprocal Trade saw it reduced to 19 per cent, alongside exemptions for some key exports.
“What is the situation now? Our economy is strong and resilient…growth this year could even surpass current projections,” he replied to Sri Gading MP, Aminolhuda Hassan (PH)
“Trade trend continues to be positive. This year, between January to September, it rose by 4.4 per cent. And this is despite a very uncertain world caused by Donald Trump‘s tariffs. It still rose to some RM2.2 trillion,” he added.
“And the ringgit. We were once attacked incessantly. They keep saying “ringgit is down, ringgit is down”. Now that it’s stronger, not even a word (from the Opposition).”
Anwar described the Madani Economy framework as a plan to restructure the economy so that it would be more “equitable” by “raising the ceiling” and “raising the floor” – the former to turn Malaysia into a rich economy, the latter focuses on raising living standards.
The framework was launched in 2023, and is meant to be the overarching theme guiding other economic blueprints.
The Malaysian economy grew 4.4 per cent in the first half of 2025, beating estimates. Anwar told Parliament that gross domestic product for 2025 could rise further, underpinned by robust economic performance.
