The Malaysian economy has not been adversely affected by the tsunami although there will be a temporary setback to the tourism industry in the affected northern states, a senior official has said.

"As far as the economic impact is concerned, I think it is manageable. It is not that adverse in terms of the impact to the Malaysian economy," Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday.

"There might be some setback to the tourism industry particularly to those part of the country (in the north) that were affected by the tsunami but I believe it is going to be a temporary setback," said Najib, who is chairman of the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee.

Najib, who made a ground visit to the affected areas Monday, said that Malaysia had generally been able to manage the situation and it "did not get the full brunt of the tsunami."

At noon Tuesday, the Malaysian Control Center in the police headquarters said that the death toll of Sunday's tsunami which hit the country's west coast has risen to 63, while 26 people have been reported missing and 183 people were injured.

Concerning residents in the coastal areas, he said that they must remain in the evacuation centers until the declaration by the authorities that the situation was safe for them to return home.

He said that the authorities were monitoring the aftershocks of the earthquake in north-west Sumatra which result in the tsunami.

"When the aftershocks have weakened, that is, registering below 4.5 on the Richter scale, only then can we feel more confident that another tsunami will not occur," he said.

According to press reports, some 5,000 coastal residents have been evacuated in disaster-stricken states of Kedah and Penang.

Source: Xinhua