The country's June industrial output rose 8.6 percent from a year ago but showed an almost equally sharp downturn from May, the Statistics Department said today.

In June, manufacturing sector output rose 8.7 percent from a year earlier, electricity 10 percent and mining 5.2 percent, it said in a statement.

However, in June industrial output shrank 8.1 percent from May as all three sectors slumped, with manufacturing down 9.8 percent, electricity down 2.6 percent and mining 2.3 percent, it said.

According to data released last month, May industrial production rose 16.2 pct year-on-year and was up 5.3 pct from April.

Twin blow

The Statistics Department offered no commentary on the June figures.

In the second quarter to June, the industrial production index (IPI) was up 8.7 percent from a year ago and 4.8 percent higher than the first quarter, supported by growth in all sectors.

For the first half of the year, the IPI rose 8.0 percent year-on-year, it added.

Malaysia's industries are recovering from the twin blow of the Iraq qar and the deadly SARS outbreak after the goverment announced a RM7.3 billion economic stimulus package in May.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also finance minister, earlier this month said Malaysia can achieve its growth target of 4.5 percent this year despite the recent SARS crisis. - AFP