KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low on Thursday, as expected, to support a recovering economy.

All 23 economists surveyed in a Reuters poll had expected Bank Negara Malaysia to hold its overnight policy rate steady at a record low of 1.75%. (Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Liz Lee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)