Malaysia's 2005 gross domestic product growth will be slower than in 2004 due to a slowdown in the world economy, a deputy minister said today.

"I think that (2005 GDP growth) will not be as good as 2004 because the world economy is still weak, but definitely the growth will be very healthy," Deputy Finance Minister Ng Yen Yen was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama .

The minister's comments added to evidence that economic growth will moderate this year following an earlier forecast by the central bank.

Economic growth data for the fourth quarter is expected to be released by the central bank on Monday.

The central bank had earlier forecast 2004 GDP growth at seven percent, with 2005 growth at six percent.

The economy grew by 7.8 percent, 8.2 percent and 6.8 percent respectively in the first, second and third quarter of 2004.

For the fourth quarter, the central bank expects GDP growth to moderate at 5-7 percent.