MALAYSIA’S unemployment rate in January increased slightly to 4.9% from 4.8% in December 2020, ascended by 9.7 thousand unemployed persons to 782.5 thousand persons.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin, the continuous increase was partly due to review of business strategies in tourism-related industries which consist of accommodation and food services, passenger transportation, entertainment and recreational activities.