The recent economic performance figures released by Bank Negara Malaysia have refuted Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's claim that Malaysia is on track towards becoming a high-income nation by 2020, argues Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) strategies director Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Looking at the current condition, Dzulkefly said, a 12 percent (13.5 percent to be exact) yearly gross national income (GNI) growth is needed, consistently every year until 2020, in order to achieve a GNI of US$15,000 (RM64,500) by 2020.

"That's mission impossible, considering the GNI per capita in 2016 was US$9,096 or RM37,738," Dzulkefly said in a statement today...