(AFP) Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said today Malaysia will continue to focus on the electronics and electrical industry next year, while looking to other sectors to generate economic growth.

"We will continue with the electronics and electrical industry although it has not done well this year... but now we are also focusing on other areas.

"For example, we have the capacity to manufacture a lot of equipment, fabricate a lot of steel and aluminium products. We are good in many other industries where we can seek new markets," Mahathir was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying.

Mahathir, also the finance minister, was replying to a query on the outlook for the domestic economy next year.

No quick recovery

The premier also said he does not expect the global economy to recover quickly as there are still a lot of economic uncertainties, in addition to worldwide concerns over travel.

"It (the global economy) will recover but it will recover very slowly," he said.

Last week Mahathir said Malaysia would post modest economic growth of 0.5 to 1.0 percent in 2001, down from earlier projections of 1.0 to 2.0 percent.

"Maybe one percent. Of course this is very difficult. Maybe half a percent for this year.

"Next year will be better," Mahathir told reporters at his residence in Putrajaya, just south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia last plunged into recession in 1998 amid the Asian financial crisis, but it recorded 8.5 percent growth last year.