Pakatan Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged the opposition coalition to focus on the economic troubles faced by the people.

He expressed concern over the pressure faced by Malaysians due to the rising cost of living, hike in fuel prices and GST.

“This is causing untold hardship to ordinary hardworking Malaysians, who deserve better.

“Yet, against all the evidence, the government and some high officials continue to speak as if this is not affecting people,” he added in a statement issued via his lawyer.

Anwar, who is serving a five-year prison term, said the real situation among the people is being ignored.

He claimed the government-controlled mass media is being used to “manufacture the consent” of the people.

Therefore, the former opposition leader said it is crucial for Harapan to campaign against the ruling coalition's “mismanagement and corruption”.

Harapan has promised to end GST if it comes into power but its critics have asked how the coalition planned to make up for the shortfall in revenue.

Harapan's chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself acknowledged that abolishing the GST overnight would cause problems.

"If we suddenly abolish it (GST) and we have no (alternate) source of income, that will be very bad for the government," said the former premier.

In view of this, Mahathir said the sales tax would have to be restored in the event GST is eradicated.