Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 3.00% during its first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year. The decision aligns with widespread expectations from economists and reflects confidence in Malaysia’s economic growth and inflation outlook.

Key Highlights
Unchanged OPR:
The central bank left the OPR unchanged at 3.00%, in line with predictions from 24 economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
Economic Growth and Inflation Outlook:
BNM reiterated that the current monetary policy stance remains supportive of economic activity.
The decision aligns with BNM’s view that growth prospects are robust and inflation is manageable.
First of Six Reviews in 2025:
This marks the first of six scheduled reviews of the OPR by the MPC this year.
BNM’s Statement
“At the current OPR level, the monetary policy stance remains supportive of the economy, and is consistent with the current assessment of inflation and growth prospects.”
Implications
Economic Stability: The decision suggests that BNM is confident in the economy’s ability to sustain growth without further monetary easing.
Market Response: Stability in interest rates is likely to maintain investor confidence and support ongoing economic recovery efforts.
BNM’s decision underscores its balanced approach, focusing on fostering growth while ensuring price stability. This cautious optimism will set the tone for subsequent policy decisions in 2025.