KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's economy returned to growth in the fourth quarter of 2021, expanding 3.6% from a year earlier, the central bank said on Friday, as economic activity resumed following the easing of coronavirus curbs.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected Southeast Asia's third-largest economy to grow 3.3% in the October-December period, rebounding after shrinking 4.5% in the previous quarter.

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Malaysia's full-year economic performance rose 3.1% in 2021, according to data from the Department of Statistics/Bank Negara Malaysia.