M'SIA UPBEAT TO ACHIEVE 5 PCT GROWTH THIS YEAR, SAYS M'SIAN DPM

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is optimistic to clinch a five per
cent economic growth this year if the country registers 1.4 per cent minimum
growth in the fourth quarter of 2008, Najib Razak said Monday.

"If we can achieve a 1.4 per cent minimum growth (in the fourth quarter),
our economy can record a five per cent growth (this year)," the Deputy Prime
Minister told reporters after attending the National Economic Council meeting at
Parliament House.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the government was optimistic of
a
3.5 per cent economic growth projection for next year.

"(This) is subject to two things -- our stimulus package is implemented
efficiently and secondly, the external economic environment does not take a
turn for the worse," he said.

"If things work out according to our projection, God Willing, we can attain
a 3.5 per cent growth next year, he said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the
government was aiming for at least a 3.5 per cent growth in the fourth quarter
to achieve a 5.5 per cent economic growth this year.

"The country attained 4.7 per cent growth in the third quarter of this
year.
If we can achieve 5.5 per cent growth, it will be very, very good," he said when
addressing civil servants at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's
Department at the federal administrative capital in Putrajaya.
-- BERNAMA