KUALA LUMPUR (March 14): Malaysia’s industrial production index (IPI) saw a year-on year increase of 3.2% in Jan 2019, on electricity and manufacturing output growth.

Department of Statistics chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a statement today that the IPI's electricity and manufacturing segments increased 7.8% and 4.2% respectively.

"Meanwhile, the index of mining recorded a decline of 0.9%,” Mohd Uzir said.

According to the department's statement, manufacturing output increased 4.2% in Jan 2019, after growing 4.4% in Dec 2018. 

"The major sub-sectors which recorded an increase in January 2019 were: non-metallic mineral products, basic metal and fabricated metal products (4.3%), petroleum, chemicals, rubber and plastic products (4.0%); and electrical and electronic equipment products (3.9%).

"The mining sector index recorded a decline of 0.9% in January 2019, as compared to the same period of the previous year. The decline was due to a decrease in the crude oil index (-2.2%). Meanwhile, the natural gas index increased by 0.3% year-on-year," the department said.