KUALA LUMPUR (March 3): Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Thursday (March 3, 2022) decided to maintain the overnight policy rate (OPR) at 1.75% as the central bank evaluated factors including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has emerged as a key risk to global economic growth, trade prospects, commodity prices and financial markets.

BNM is also mindful of lingering concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic.

For Malaysia, BNM said risks to the country's economic growth outlook remain tilted to the downside due to external and domestic factors while Malaysia's inflation in 2022 is projected to remain moderate.

"The MPC considers the current stance of monetary policy to be appropriate and accommodative. Fiscal and financial measures will continue to provide support to economic activity.

"Amid the prevailing uncertainties, the stance of monetary policy will continue to be determined by new data and their implications on the overall outlook for domestic inflation and growth," BNM said in a statement.

The OPR at 1.75% is the lowest on record, according to BNM data, which dates back to 2004 on the central bank's website.

The OPR has been maintained at 1.75% since July 7, 2020, when BNM cut the rate from 2%.

In the statement on Thursday, BNM said the global economy continues to recover.

Despite the recent moderation in economic activity due to the Omicron variant-driven Covid-19 resurgence, the overall recovery trajectory remains on track, according to BNM.

"Inflation in many economies remain elevated, due to both demand and supply factors. Going forward, more countries will transition to endemic management of Covid-19, hence, supporting global growth prospects.

"The unfolding developments surrounding the military conflict in Ukraine, however, have emerged as a key risk to global growth and trade prospects, commodity prices and financial market conditions.

"The global growth outlook will also continue to be affected by developments surrounding Covid-19, risks of prolonged global supply disruptions, and heightened financial market volatility amid adjustments in monetary policy in major economies," BNM said.

Despite the challenging environment, the Malaysian economy expanded by 3.1% in 2021 from a year earlier, BNM said.

Looking ahead, BNM said Malaysia's economic growth recovery will strengthen in 2022, driven by the expansion in global demand and higher private sector expenditure, amid improvements in the labour market and continued targeted policy support.

"The expected reopening of international borders would also provide further support to economic recovery. The economic impact from the recent increase in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant is expected to be considerably less severe than previous waves in the absence of stringent restrictions.

"Risks to the [Malaysia's economic] growth outlook remain tilted to the downside due to external and domestic factors. These include a weaker-than-expected global growth, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, worsening supply chain disruptions, and developments surrounding Covid-19," BNM said.

According to the central bank, Malaysia's 2022 headline inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, is projected to remain moderate as the base effect from fuel inflation continues to dissipate.

The country's core inflation is expected to normalise to around its long-term average as economic activity continues to pick up amid the environment of high input costs.

"Nevertheless, core inflation is expected to be modest, with the upside risk partly contained by the continued slack in the economy and labour market.

"The inflation outlook continues to be subject to global commodity price developments amid risks from prolonged supply-related disruptions," BNM said.