Malaysia's industrial output rose 4.2 percent in December compared to a year ago following increased output in the electricity and manufacturing sectors, data showed today.

The Statistics Department said the year-on-year increase reflected 3.9 percent growth in the electricity sector and 5.6 percent increase in manufacturing. However the mining sector saw a decline of 3.2 percent.

Industrial output shrank 0.4 percent from October.

Mining down

For the fourth quarter to December, industrial output expanded by 5.1 percent year-on-year as manufacturing output rose 6.6 percent and electricity production increased by 3.6 percent.

However, mining sector output fell 2.4 percent.

For 2005, industrial output expanded 4.1 percent compared with a year earlier.