The country's manufacturing sales in January 2003 rose 8.4 percent year-on-year, official figures showed today.

Sales in manufacturing, the main driver of the economy, jumped to RM25.9 billion from RM23.9 billion in January 2002, the Statistics Department said in a statement.

The manufacturing sector makes up a third of Malaysia's gross domestic product.

The department said a total of 972,290 people were employed in the manufacturing sector during January, up 1.6 percent year-on-year and 0.2 percent higher than December.

Total paid salaries and wages of RM1.6 billion was 8.1 percent higher year-on year but three percent lower month-on-month, it added. AFP