AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TO SEE HEALTHY GROWTH THIS YEAR, SAYS NAJIB

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian automotive industry is
expected to see a healthy growth this year in tandem with the positive growth in
gross domestic product (GDP) estimated at five to six per cent this year, says
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said this when officiating the new Audi showroom and launch of its Audi 1
model here Thursday.

The Malaysian economy registered a positive GDP growth of 4.5 per cent in
the fourth quarter of 2009, amid strengthened domestic and external demand, but
the entire year's growth contracted 1.7 per cent.

The government had earlier projected a contraction of three per cent in GDP
for 2009. In 2008, Malaysia's GDP growth was 4.6 per cent.

Recently Central Bank of Malaysia was reported as saying the recovery in the
global economy had improved further in the fourth quarter of 2009.

It said the positive trend is expected to continue in 2010, although the
pace of the global recovery is expected to be gradual and uneven.

-- BERNAMA