Kuala lumpur: The overall impact of ringgit movements on Malaysia's trade competitiveness is expected to remain manageable, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said. He noted that the ringgit strengthened by 10.1 percent against the US dollar in 2025 and gained between 1.5 and 13.9 percent against other major and regional currencies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in 2025, Malaysia recorded gross export growth of 6.5 percent, up from 5.8 percent in 2024. This growth was mainly driven by the electrical and electronics sector, which remained resilient, Amir Hamzah stated in response to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Bobbey Ah Fang Suan in the Dewan Negara today.

Senator Bobbey Suan raised concerns about whether the current strength of the ringgit could undermine the country's export competitiveness and inquired about measures taken to help exporters manage currency fluctuations. Amir Hamzah further clarified that despite the ringgit's appreciation, the value of Malaysia's exports continued to show positive growth.

The minister emphasized that Malaysia's export performance does not rely solely on cost factors or the ringgit's movements, but is supported by strong production capacity and a high level of integration in global supply chains. Export growth is expected to continue benefiting from rising demand for technology-related products, including artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, as well as increased tourism activity following the launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, expanded air travel capacity, and extended visa-free travel facilities.

Amir Hamzah also noted that while a stronger ringgit may affect the competitiveness of exports and exporters through the conversion of US dollar earnings into ringgit, the impact is expected to remain manageable. Leading exporters typically implement hedging measures to mitigate currency fluctuations, he added.