KUALA LUMPUR (May 13): The construction sector work done value soared by 14.2% year-on-year (y-o-y), amounting to RM36.8 billion in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024), said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the value of work done in the construction sector continued its upward trajectory, compared with 4Q2023’s 6.8%.

“The vibrant performance was attributable to a stronger expansion in the civil engineering sub-sector, which was at 24.7% following an 18% increase in the preceding quarter.

“Additionally, the special trades activities (11.8%) and residential building sub-sectors (11.5%) experienced double-digit increases.

“In the meantime, the non-residential buildings sub-sector also expanded at a faster pace of 3.8% (4Q2023: -1.9%),” he said.

Mohd Uzir said that out of RM36.8 billion, civil engineering amounted to RM15.1 billion or 41.1%, driven primarily by the construction of roads and railways activity which accounted for RM7.6 billion.

“The value of work done for non-residential buildings was RM10.2 billion (27.7%), and RM7.8 billion (21.1%) for residential buildings. 

“The special trade activities made up RM3.7 billion (10%), largely in electrical installation (RM1.1 billion), [followed by] plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation (RM900 million), and sites preparation (RM700 million) activities,” he said. 

The DOSM said that the private sector remained the main impetus to growth in the latest quarter, with an increase of 10.1% (4Q2023: 1.4%).

The value of work done by the public sector reached RM15 billion or 40.8%, which maintained its double-digit growth for three consecutive quarters by registering 20.6% in the latest quarter.

The DOSM added that nearly 58.4% of the construction sector work done value in 1Q2024 was concentrated in Selangor, Johor, the Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan), and Sarawak.