Malaysia's GDP above 7 percent

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 9 (UPI) -- Malaysia's second quarter gross domestic product is poised to expand by 7 percent, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said Thursday.

This followed a 7.6 percent growth in the first quarter.

Abdhullah said the government would continue to undertake projects to stimulate growth in a prudent manner so as to control the budget deficit.

"If we spend lavishly without taking into account the budget deficit, it would bring about negative effects to us all," he said, the state news agency Bernama reported.

Malaysia's GDP, which last year grew at 5.3 percent, is forecast to expand by 6-6.5 percent this year.