KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's economic scorecard under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint is currently at 83.9 per cent with 70 out of 436 variable measures still not being implemented, says Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad.

The minister said Malaysia was now ranked sixth among the ten ASEAN countries in AEC's economic scorecard.

He said he was confident to be able to implement at least half of the 70 unimplemented variables in six months' time or middle of next year to improve the country's ranking.

"The variables, among others, fall under different category measures like trade in goods, elimination of non-tariff barriers, service liberalisation and non ratification of agreements and involving many sectors," he said.

Mustapa said this at a media briefing after chairing an inter-agency meetings on AEC with ministers in the capital, Monday.

"Overall, ASEAN has implemented 82.1 per cent of the prioritised AEC measures identified in 2013 and an additional 53 key deliverables for 2014 to 2015 had also been implemented as at middle August this year.

"Malaysia's implementation rate is well within other member states', ranging from 81 per cent to 86 per cent," he said.

Mustapa said another issue being discussed at the meeting was the outreach programmes to elevate the level of awareness among the people on AEC'sopportunities and to listen to concerns among the people on the perceived threat the AEC might post.

He said it was important for the ministries and agencies to undertake a coordinated effort towards creating greater awareness of the variousinitiatives among stakeholder under their responsibilities.

"The Ministry of International Trade and Industry has organised over hundred outreach programmes covering trade and industry associations, small and medium enterprises, school and university students, non-governmentalorganisations, civil societies, media and grassroots levels," he said.