By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, Jan 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s fiscal and economic performance has shown marked improvement, with the ringgit recording one of the strongest performances in Asia and investments continuing to grow.
He lauded coordinated efforts between the government, civil service and private sector, noting that fiscal discipline and effective governance have strengthened investor confidence.
“Alhamdulillah (Thanks to God), congratulations to all including the private sector and workers for defending the value of our ringgit as one of the best-performing in Asia,” he said during his 2026 New Year message, today.
Anwar said total investments rose to RM285.2 billion, an increase of 13.2 per cent, while Malaysia’s trade from January to November recorded a significant expansion, reflecting the country’s economic potential.
In 2025, the ringgit strengthened nearly 10 per cent against the US dollar, outpacing other major Asian currencies and reaching its strongest levels in several years.
However, as of 8am today, ringgit opened slightly lower against the US dollar as global risks prompted investors to be more cautious.
Elaborating further, Anwar stated that Malaysia’s competitiveness had also improved, with the country climbing 11 places in global rankings, alongside positive sovereign credit ratings of A- by S&P Global Ratings and A3 by Moody’s.
The speech was delivered during the Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly and outlined the government’s direction, key initiatives and several major announcements to be implemented throughout the year.
Earlier in his address, Anwar also reiterated the government’s firm stance against corruption and bribery.
He stated that action must be taken decisively while leaders remain in positions of power.
He also said that corruption was not limited only to politicians alone but also involved civil servants and enforcement agencies.
Anwar said enforcement bodies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the police, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and border agencies must act firmly against offenders, while respecting the rule of law and due process.
“I often ask, when should we take firm action while we are in power? When you are the head of a department, director-general, KPPI or KSN, unit head, or a responsible officer.
“While my colleagues are serving as ministers in key departments, that is the time we must make every effort to cleanse this country of inefficiency and the rotten culture of corruption that still spreads throughout the system.
“In the past, we focused on politicians, but now it also includes civil servants, military officers, and police, without exception,” he said.
