COMMENT | On April 18, speaking in Kota Bharu after officiating the new terminal at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Malaysians that only 15 percent of the population is affected by recent diesel price increases.

The remaining 85 percent, he said, are still buying at subsidised rates, and that part of the story is "not mentioned at all."

The prime minister’s instinct is reasonable. Sensationalised cases should not drive policy, but if the government's position is now that only 15 percent of Malaysians feel the diesel hike, that figure has to survive scrutiny.

It does not.

What govt’s own data already shows

A day before the prime minister's remarks...