Bank Negara Malaysia’s Monetary Policy Committee left the Overnight Policy Rate unchanged at 2.75 percent on 5 March 2026, judging the current stance as “appropriate and supportive” given steady domestic growth and moderate inflation but rising external uncertainties linked to the Middle East conflict and volatile global markets. After July 2025’s 25 bp cut, the rate has been held at 2.75 percent in subsequent meetings. Headline and core inflation printed at 1.6 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, in January, and both are projected to stay moderate and near long-term averages this year, while GDP expanded 5.2 percent in 2025 and is expected to maintain momentum in 2026 on resilient domestic demand, solid employment and wage gains, ongoing public- and private-sector projects, and firm electrical-and-electronics exports alongside robust tourism. The central bank highlighted Malaysia’s sound financial sector and resilient external position even as global growth is tempered by heightened geopolitical tensions, the risk of higher tariffs and market volatility, offset by supportive fiscal–monetary stances abroad and strong tech investment. The committee pledged to keep monitoring developments and the evolving balance of risks to growth and inflation.
Bank Negara Malaysia 2026-03-05
BNM keeps OPR unchanged at 2.75% on 5 Mar 2026
Bank Negara Malaysia’s Monetary Policy Committee kept the Overnight Policy Rate at 2.75 % on 5 March, maintaining the level set after July 2025’s 25 bp cut. The stance is deemed appropriate given steady domestic growth and moderate inflation, though the MPC cited heightened geopolitical and market uncertainties and will continue to monitor risks.