MP SPEAKS | We expect Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to wax lyrical about the higher than expected economic growth as reflected in the recent GDP figures. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has said given the strong growth in the first half of 2017 at 5.7 percent, the economy is expected to expand by more than 4.8 percent in 2017.

Thus, the corollary question to be asked by all, if Malaysia’s economy is doing so well, why are ordinary Malaysians on the streets feeling the pinch?

The answer is obvious. While BN leaders sing themselves praises over their supposed achievements, Malaysia’s inflation rate – which reflects the cost of living in the country, has been hitting record levels unseen since the global financial subprime crisis a decade ago...