The country's economy is strong under Prime Minister Najib Razak's leadership, but the economy and ringgit was weighed down by negative perceptions, said treasurer-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah.

This perception was intentionally stirred by interested parties and needs to be corrected, he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Among others, there was a perception that 1MDB and Najib's leadership were having a negative effect on the performance of the ringgit, he said.

"I go to restaurants and supermarkets, who are there? People are buying and travelling," he said at a press conference.

"Some group of people are making noise as though the whole country is in trouble."

"We are reading a lot of alternative media, the netizens are writing certain things that are not true," he said.

"The real economy is performing and we are managing it properly," he stressed.

He said the country is on track in achieving its goal, including 3.1 percent deficit and 4.5 percent to five percent growth.

He told the media to contribute to the ringgit appreciation through positive reports about the currency and economy.

"Hopefully, when you publish today's briefing, the ringgit will be strengthened," said Irwan.

"We are taking all steps to resolve 1MDB, but it will take some time as this is complicated," he said.

According to him, the plummeting of the ringgit was a short-term phenomenon that would recover in the middle-term following the measures taken by Bank Negara Malaysia.

"We hope in the coming months (the currency will strengthen), but I (can't predict) when as I am not a fortune teller," he said.

"We will strengthen the ringgit and economy through development and correcting the negative perception," he added.