KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 ― The government’s decision to revise downwards the gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 4.5-5.5 per cent in 2016-2020 from 5-6 per cent previously is more realistic, says RHB Research.

In a note, RHB Research Economist, Vincent Loo Yeong Hong said the downwards revision, highlighted in the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) unveiled yesterday, was due to the challenging global economic outlook and domestic fiscal constraints.

"We think the reduced growth target is more realistic as we enter the late stage of the global growth cycle and uncertainty is rising amid the escalation of the US-China trade war and monetary policy tightening by major economies,” he said.

Similarly, he said the growth target is projected to be softer for 2018-2020 at between 4.5-5.5 per cent from 5.1 per cent in 2016-17, which is broadly in line with RHB Research’s forecast of 4.8-5.2 per cent for the same period.

Meanwhile, private investment is projected to record a slower growth of 5.7 per cent per annum in 2018-2020 from 6.8 per cent in 2016-2017, and as a result, private investment growth would be revised downward to 6.1 per cent for 2016-2020 from 9.4 per cent.

Nonetheless, Loo said the research house lauds the efforts by the government to focus on quality private investments that create more high-paying skilled jobs, particularly in the manufacturing and services sectors.

As such, he said measures to encourage investment in machinery and equipment ― especially in automation ― would be implemented to enhance capacity and productivity of enterprises.

On the fiscal deficit, he said it could go beyond three per cent of GDP for 2019 as fiscal targets would be flexible during the transition period of the new administration to shore up growth.

"The economy may react to these immediate fiscal reforms in the short term, but they are necessary to lay down a firmer foundation for more sustainable and inclusive growth.

"Our alternative scenarios in our recent Budget 2019 Preview report did not rule out the possibility of the fiscal deficit rising to 3.3 per cent of GDP. Thereafter, it will be back into its consolidation path in 2020,” he said, adding that the fiscal deficit is targeted at three per cent of GDP in 2020.

He said the consolidation would be achieved through a multi-pronged approach towards strengthening fiscal management whereby revenue would continue to be diversified by increasing the contributions of indirect taxes and non-tax revenue such as licences, permits, fees and rentals.

Furthermore, he said the government would explore imposing a digital tax on e-commerce and online transactions.

"More initiatives to improve tax compliance will also be undertaken to ensure collection is maximised from both direct and indirect taxes,” he added. ― Bernama