Bank Negara Malaysia also attributed the strong growth rate to a pick-up in exports and tourist arrivals, as well as robust expansion in investment activities.

The figure is slightly above the statistics department’s advanced estimate of 5.8% released earlier this week.

At a press conference here, BNM governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said headline inflation is projected to average between 2% and 3.5% this year.

He said household spending remains the anchor of Malaysia’s growth, with consumer spending expected to improve going forward.

Private consumption rose 6% while public consumption increased by 3.6%. Meanwhile, private investment climbed 12% and public investment was 9.1% higher.

The services sector, which accounts for more than half of Malaysia’s economic output, expanded 5.9%.

Manufacturing grew by 4.7%, the construction sector was 17.3% higher, agriculture increased by 7.2%, and mining production edged up 2.7%.