Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said this increase was driven by the boost in transport equipment and other products (34.2%), electrical and electronics products (17%), as well as food, beverages and tobacco products (14.9%).

For the first quarter of the year, the manufacturing sector recorded an increase in sales of RM368.2 billion or 8.5% when compared to the previous year.

In a statement, Uzir said 2.23 million employees were engaged in the manufacturing sector in March, a 1.1% decrease compared to the same time last year.

The department also reported a total of RM7.51 billion paid in salaries, increasing by 0.8% from March 2020.

“The sales value per employee rose by 16.5% to record RM56,831 as compared with the same month in 2020.

“Meanwhile, the average salaries and wages per employee was RM3,364 in March 2021,” he said.