Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah said that there is no reason that Malaysians should be poor, because there are plenty of opportunities for them to be well-off.

"When some say Malaysia's economy is lagging behind, the people are poor, they’re wrong.

“We are not like debt-ridden Bangladesh and we are not like the Philippines. They (those who say Malaysia is poor) are confusing the rakyat," he said at the 1Malaysia Entrepreneurship (1MeT) graduation day.

Irwan Serigar also claimed that those who are poor are in situations of their own making.

“If people are poor, I believe that they have made themselves poor. If they have arms and legs and can walk, they can survive in Malaysia.

“There are four million immigrants living in Malaysia. Like in Chow Kit. It used to be us (Malaysians) doing business in Chow Kit. Now half of those doing business are Indonesians.

“If Indonesians can thrive in Malaysia, Malaysians should be more successful,” he said.

Irwan Serigar, who is also the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (Magic) chairperson, also cited night markets as a good example of entrepreneurship.

“The people there (at night markets), they make food, people will buy no matter what is being sold. They sell drinks that promise good health, good circulation, and cure from disease, and people line up (to buy it),” he said.

He also named several more entrepreneurship angles for Malaysians to pursue to become more successful, like coconut by-products. 

"There are many other products from the biotech and technology sectors, (you can pursue) sewing and logistics too," he said.