S&P tips 4% annual growth for Malaysia through to 2020

 KUALA LUMPUR – Ratings agency Standard and Poor’s expects Malaysian authorities to continue to implement prudent budgetary and economic policies, with the country's economy to grow at an average rate of over 4% between now and 2020. “Stocks of public and private debt, and contingent public liabilities are
considerable, but overwhelmingly denominated in the domestic currency, S&P says. 

“Uncertainty connected to upcoming Parliamentary elections could put upward pressure on the cost of refinancing the economy's gross external
financing needs, despite Malaysia's overall strong net external position.

“We are affirming our 'A-/A-2' foreign currency and 'A/A-1' local currency sovereign credit ratings on Malaysia. We are also affirming our
'axAAA/axA-1+' ASEAN regional scale rating on Malaysia.

“The stable outlook balances Malaysia's strong net external position, solid growth performance, and monetary flexibility against its sizable
stock of public debt, and still-modest per capita GDP of an estimated $9,200.” www.standardandpoors.com (ATI).