KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 ― Malaysia's economy grew more rapidly than expected in the fourth quarter of 2017, capping a year of robust growth.

Data released by the central bank today showed annual growth of 5.9  per cent in the fourth quarter.

The median forecast of a Reuters poll of 12 economists was for growth to cool to 5.7  per cent after the 6.2  per cent pace in the third quarter.

Full-year 2017 growth came in at 5.9 per cent, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in a statement. The pace in 2016 was 4.2 per cent.

The central bank said fourth-quarter growth was driven by private sector expenditure, supported by continued wage and employment growth.

In October, the government revised up its 2017 full-year growth projection to 5.2-5.7  per cent, from 4.3  per cent to 4.8  per cent. ― Reuters