Malaysia's economy grew 6.7 percent in the third quarter, fuelled by strong private consumption and investment, putting it on track to meet a 2007 forecast of 6.0 percent, the central bank said Wednesday.

The robust quarterly growth, which came in above expectations, was also credited to healthy manufacturing and construction sectors, and came despite fears over the US subprime market and credit woes.

"We have one month left in 2007 and earlier over October and November we have seen domestic demand very robust and significant investment activity so we have a high degree of confidence we will achieve 6.0 percent growth for this year," central bank governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz told reporters.

Zeti said that in the near term, growth momentum is expected to be sustained, but in the medium term outlook there are risks including the prospect of a pronounced slowdown in the US economy.

The central bank said the services sector grew by 10.5 percent in the three months to September, helped by a boom in the tourism industry.

Malaysia has launched a campaign to attract 20.1 million tourists this year, up from 17.5 million visitors in 2006.

The construction sector expanded by 4.7 percent in the third quarter due to the implementation of major infrastructure projects under a national development plan, it said.