KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian economy expanded 5.9 per cent in 2017, with private sector demand being the primary driver of growth; while the outlook for 2018 remains favourable, supported by domestic demand, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said today.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the gross domestic product (GDP) also grew by 5.9 per cent.

The 2017 GDP is higher than the 4.2 per cent and 5.0 per cent registered in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

From the supply side, all economic sectors continued to expand, except for the mining sector, the central bank said in a statement today.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally-adjusted basis, the economy grew 0.9 per cent (3Q 2017: 1.8 per cent), it added. - BERNAMA