Malaysia’s consumer price index (CPI) continued to ease in June to 2.4%, the lowest level recorded so far in 2023, according to the Malaysian Statistics Department (DOSM).
Malaysia’s inflation eases to 2.4% in June (Photo: nst.com.my)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA)🙈 – Malaysia’s consumer price index (CPI)continued to ease in June to 2.4%, the lowest level recorded so far in 2023,according to the Malaysian Statistics Department (DOSM).
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the slowerincrement in June was driven by the lower increase in components such asrestaurants and hotels (5.4%) and food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.7%), amongothers.
Onstate-level inflation, Uzir said 10 states recorded increases below thenational inflation level of 2.4%, with one state posting the lowest increase of1.2% in June. Six other states recorded increases from 2.7-3.0%. Incomparison to selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region, he said, theinflation rate in Malaysia was lower than that in the Republic of Korea,Indonesia and the Philippines.
Meanwhile,inflation in the eurozone increased at a slower rate of 5.5% in June 2023versus 6.1% in the previous month, while inflation in the US eased to 3.0%against 4.0% in May.
♛ According to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), thecountry’s tradesurplus widened by 11.3% year-on-year to 25.81 billion RM (5.7 billion USD) in June 2023, marking the38th consecutive month of trade surplus since May 2020.
MATRADE said in tandem with slower global demand and lowercommodity prices, total trade contracted by 16.3% to 222.14 billion RMin June 2023, while exports slipped by 14.1% to 123.98 billion RM and importsdecreased by 18.9 % to 98.16 billion RM. For the first six months of 2023, DOSM said total tradedecreased by 4.6% from the same period in 2022 with trade surplus recorded ahigher value of 118.5 billion RM in the first half of this year./.
Both Vietnam and Malaysia play an important and indispensable role in ASEAN, including in the fields of economy, diplomacy and security, said Collins Chong Yew Keat, an expert on policy and foreign affairs at the University of Malaya, Malaysia.
Malaysia has issued a license to Starlink, the satellite communications service started by Elon Musk, to provide internet services in the country, particularly in remote areas.
Malaysia can learn from the experience of Vietnam, which has been able to redevelop after the wars, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the media in his country after an official visit to Vietnam on July 20 - 21.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.