BANK Negaras gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate forecast for the country remains at 4.5% for now but could be weaker due to external uncertainties, while interest rates are currently at appropriate levels said its Assistant Governor Datuk Latifah Merican Chong.
She said the GDP growth forecast for Malaysia would be revised later in the year as a clearer picture emerges, in response to a question raised at the MCA National Economic conference yesterday on whether the Iraq war and outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) would affect the accuracy of Bank Negaras forecast.