Rising international reserves positive for Malaysia

Speaking to StarBizWeek, Socio-Economic Research Centre (SERC) executive director Lee Heng Guie says the gradual increase in Malaysia’s international reserves was due to continued surpluses in the current account (trade and services), which more than offset the sustained capital outflows

MALAYSIA’S international reserves have been increasing in the past five years, with Bank Negara adding almost US$22bil (RM59bil) to its holding since 2016.

This is an encouraging trend, considering that the central bank has recouped about 48% of the international reserves value or US$45.25bil it lost between 2012 to 2016.