Malaysia: Business confidence weakened by COVID-19

Operators of businesses in Malaysia are more pessimistic in the third quarter due to the severe and prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, an official survey showed on Thursday.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in its Business Tendency Report that the confidence indicator further dipped to minus 21.3 per cent in the quarter under review as against minus 3.1 per cent in the preceding quarter.
“Within the sectors covered, all sectors anticipate unfavourable business conditions for the third quarter in light of severe and prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in this country,” it said.
According to DOSM, the confidence indicator of the wholesale and retail trade sector plunged to a negative trajectory with minus 39.4 per cent as compared to 5.6 per cent in the second quarter.
The industry and services sectors indicated more pessimism with confidence indicators dropping to minus 11.0 per cent and minus 22.8 per cent respectively in the third quarter, from minus 1.5 per cent and minus 6.1 per cent recorded in the previous quarter.
The construction sector also anticipates that the business situation will recede in the third quarter with minus 45.0 per cent as against minus 30.5 per cent recorded in the past quarter.
More from Peoples Gazette

Rights
Fake News: Falana urges Nigerian media to self-regulate
Mr Falana said the call was necessary to forestall the government’s push to shut down social media.

World
Twin bomb blasts in Kabul hit U.S. marines, others
The incident came hours after intelligence reports warned of possible attacks near the airport in the beleaguered Afghan capital.

Abuja
UN marks 10th anniversary of Abuja House bombing amid tears, trauma
Families and colleagues of victims recall their trauma as they laid wreaths for victims of the suicide bombing at the UN House in 2011.

Health
Minister pushes for youth involvement in campaign against open defecation
The minister noted that mainstreaming young persons was central to the country’s fight towards ending open defecation by 2025.

States
Osun police kill gunmen in shootout
A piece of paper with incantation written in Yoruba language with the names of the perpetrators were found in one gunman’s pocket, police said.
![Lagos health commissioner Akin Abayomi. [CREDIT: Twitter page of Mr Abayomi]](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/Akin-Abayomi.jpg)
Health
Ten die of COVID-19 complications in one day, Lagos commissioner say
The state on August 25 began the administration of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the 183 designated vaccination sites across the state.