KUALA LUMPUR (April 11): Malaysia's industrial production index (IPI) rose 3.9% in February from a year earlier, led by a significant rise in electricity output.

In a statement today, the Statistics Department said electricity production rose 10.5% while mining and manufacturing output climbed 1.1% and 4.5% respectively.

"The mining sector output grew 1.1% in February 2016 as compared to the same month in 2015. This growth was mainly due to the increase of crude oil index (1.3%) and natural gas index (0.7%)," the department said.

Cumulative two-month IPI rose 3.6% from a year earlier on growth in all three segments of the index, according to the department.

Electricity production rose 9% while mining and manufacturing output climbed 0.9% and 4.2% respectively.

In January, the IPI grew 3.2% from a year earlier, the department said.