KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — Businesses in Malaysia are cautiously optimistic over the economic outlook for 2014, a survey by accountancy firm Grant Thornton revealed.
It showed that the optimism level of businesses surveyed last year rose to 20 per cent compared with 12 per cent a year ago while fifty-two per cent of business owners expected an increase in revenue this year.
As many as 36 per cent wanted to hire more workers while 90 per cent planned to offer employees a pay rise, it added.
However, businesses are preparing to face impediments such as inflation for the year ahead, said SJ Grant Thornton Country Managing Partner Datuk NK Jasani.
“The proposed increase in toll prices, the municipal assessments in Kuala Lumpur, as well as, the increase in electricity tariffs and public transportation, will pose a serious challenge to business owners,” he added.
The survey interviewed 3,500 chief executive officers, managing directors, chairmen and senior executives across 44 countries between November and December 2013. — Bernama
