According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the country’s construction sector contracted by 6.3% in the first quarter of 2020, amounting to RM35 billion, compared with the same month of the previous year.
Has the pandemic known as COVID-19 slowing down the construction sector?
In a statement by Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, there were declines in the non-residential buildings sub-sector (11.0%), special trades activities sub-sector (8.6%), residential buildings sub-sector (7.6%) and civil engineering sub-sector (2.3%) in the first quarter of 2020.
The Department of Statistics also reported that in 1Q20, the civil engineering sub-sector remained dominant and was the main contributor to the value of construction work done with a 44.9% share.
Non-residential buildings contributed 25.9%, residential buildings (24.1%), and special trades activities (5.0%).
The private sector continued to propel the construction activity with 54.8% share of the value of construction work done (RM19.2 billion) as compared to the public sector with a 45.2% share (RM15.8 billion).
A glimmer of the sun shines upon us but AGAIN please do bear in mind that social distancing is still in effect and safety precautions must be taken seriously. May we flatten the curve even further!