Malaysia's inflation rate in April was 1.5 percent, unchanged from March, official data showed Wednesday.

For the January to April period, consumer prices rose 2.4 percent against the same period last year, the Statistics Department said.

Malaysia's central bank in late April kept its key interest rate unchanged at 3.50 percent amid expectations of sustained economic growth and low inflation.

Bank Negara had said there were no underlying inflationary pressures in the economy and maintained its inflation forecast for the year at 2.0-2.5 percent.

Inflation in 2006 was 3.6 percent due to high oil prices.