KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Business sentiment remains optimistic in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q 2025), as reflected by the positive confidence indicator of 2.0 per cent, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the positive performance reflects sustained optimism from the previous quarter of 3.2 per cent.
The services, construction, and industrial sectors expect steady business conditions in 2Q 2025.
“Confidence in the services sector remains positive with a confidence indicator of 6.9 per cent, compared to 13.5 per cent in the previous quarter.
"Simultaneously, sentiment in the construction sector remains favourable with 4.6 per cent versus 12.5 per cent in 1Q 2025," DOSM said in a statement today.
The confidence indicator for the Industrial sector improved to 1.9 per cent from 0.2 in the preceding quarter.
In contrast, the wholesale and retail trade sector is pessimistic, with the confidence indicator at 6.7 per cent in 2Q 2025 versus 8.1 per cent previously, it noted.
The confidence indicators are mixed at the state level. States that are “optimistic” about business prospects for 2Q 2025 are Terengganu (+18.0 per cent), Kedah (+4.3 per cent), Putrajaya (+3.7 per cent), Perlis (+3.5 per cent), Johor (1.5 per cent), and Kuala Lumpur (+0.9 per cent).
The majority are pessimistic; Kelantan at -7.8 per cent, Perak (-6.3 per cent), Penang (-5.1 per cent), Pahang (-4.5 per cent), Labuan (-3.9 per cent), Sarawak (-2.9 per cent), Melaka (-2.0 per cent), Negeri Sembilan and Selangor (both at -1.2 per cent), and Sabah (-0.3 per cent).
— Bernama
