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Finance

Malaysia can become a top-30 economy, says Abdul Wahid

Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar said Malaysia must expand its nominal gross domestic product at least two percentage points above its rivals to vault into the world’s 30 largest economies.

Source: The Star · August 5, 2026 at 2:55 PM · AI-assisted report

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Malaysia can become a top-30 economy, says Abdul Wahid
Photo: Harrison Keely via wikimedia (BY)

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 AUGUST 2026 —

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Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar said Malaysia must expand its nominal gross domestic product at least two percentage points above its rivals to vault into the world’s 30 largest economies.

Market Impact

The chairman of Cypark Resources Bhd, IOI Corporation Bhd and WWF-Malaysia told the Wisdom Malaysia Conference 2026 that Malaysia is currently ranked 35th, while the United Arab Emirates holds 30th spot with an economy about 20% larger. “Countries ahead of us will continue to grow,” he said. “Emerging economies below us, such as the Philippines and Bangladesh, also aim for faster expansion.”

To close the gap, Abdul Wahid said Malaysia must outpace peer growth by at least two percentage points in nominal terms. He noted Malaysia’s real GDP expanded about 5% in the latest period, while nominal GDP is rising around 7%.

Achieving the target hinges on sustained growth and continued policy measures to attract both foreign and domestic investment, he said.

The two-day Wisdom Malaysia Conference 2026, organised by Kerjaya One PLT, gathers current and former industry leaders to share leadership insights and transformation case studies.

Related: Abdul Wahid

Reporting based on The Star. Figures and claims are subject to revision as the story develops. DomainFork publishes editorial context, not investment advice — see our editorial standards.