Bank Negara 2008 Annual Report Highlights

* GDP forecast for 2009: - 0.1 percent to 1 percent;

* Manufacturing sector to contract by 8 pct in 2009 (2008: 1.3 pct);

* Construction sector to grow by 3 pct in 2009 (2008: 2.1 pct);

* Services sector to grow by 4.5 pct in 2009 (2008:7.3 pct);

* Agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors to contract by 2 pct in 2009 (2008: 3.8 pct);

* Unemployment for 2009 forecast at 4.5 pct or 550,000 people (2008: 3.7 pct), an increase of 107,000 people;

* Inflation in 2009 to range between 1.5-2 pct (2008: 5.4 pct);

* Federal government's 2008 revenue projected at RM159.8 bln (2007: RM139.9 bln);

* 2009 operating expenditure projected at RM153.5 bln (2008: RM123.1 bln);

* Government's external debt for 2008 projected at RM235.6 bln (2007:187.4 bln);

* Bank Negara's 2008 net profit slightly lower at RM6.509 bln (2007:RM6.66 bln)