Malaysia’s ringgit has appreciated about 14% against the US dollar since early 2025, prompting the government to review whether prices of imported goods can be reduced.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the Finance Ministry will work with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to study the pricing mechanism.
Govt studying price adjustments for imports
According to Oriental Daily, Amir Hamzah said the stronger ringgit is positive for imported goods.
He added that the key issue now is to ensure importers pass on the lower costs to consumers.
The appreciation of the ringgit is good for imported goods. Our concern is to ensure importers transfer the lower costs to the people,” he said.
He added that the ministries are still analysing and monitoring whether there is room to reduce prices.
However, he noted that not all prices will necessarily fall due to higher costs in recent years.
We need to balance between the existing cost structure and the current market situation,” he explained.
He said this after attending a visit under the Kampung Pulau Betong MADANI Adopted Village Programme yesterday.
Malaysia’s economy remains strong
On the country’s economic performance, Amir Hamzah said data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia showed steady growth.
Malaysia’s GDP grew 6.3% in the fourth quarter of last year, bringing full-year growth to 5.2%, among the highest in ASEAN.
He said this reflects the impact of comprehensive economic reforms, including social protection measures and targeted interventions.
According to him, the stronger ringgit and improved economic performance have boosted public confidence, consumption, and liquidity.
Despite this, he stressed that the government’s priority remains strengthening the economy in the long term, attracting quality investments, and ensuring initiatives such as Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) continue to benefit the people.
