QUESTION 2 Malaysian Economy Expands 5.6% in First Quarter KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's economy expanded by 5.6% in the first quarter ended March 31, 2015, supported by strong private consumption and private investment. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) announced on Friday that the GDP growth, on a quarter basis grew at 1.2%. GDP at current prices amounted to RM277.2 billion in this quarter. At constant prices in 2010, GDP registered a value of RM254.4 billion. The firm GDP growth, which was above economists' expectations of a 5.5% growth, was driven by an 8.8% growth in private consumption and the 11.7% increase in private investment. Private investment was driven by capital spending in the export oriented manufacturing industries and the services sector together with on-going multi-year investment projects. BNM said the current account surplus improved in the quarter to 3.7% or RM10billion of gross national income. However, gross exports declined due to higher exports in the previous corresponding quarter. Meanwhile, the Statistics Department said the services sector recorded a steady growth of 6.4%. The growth was mainly led by wholesale and retail trade headed by retail (10.7%) and wholesale (9.6%)