Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin said BN leader Najib Abdul Razak and his Pakatan Harapan counterpart Dr Mahathir Mohamad should engage in a public debate on the economy and financial matters.

He said that if this could not happen, the debate should be between their representatives.

Daim, in an interview with Nanyang Siang Pau, said this would allow voters to make an informed choice.

"I believe people want to see them debate each other," he said.

Daim said BN was having trouble addressing cost-of-living issues and the opposition was using this opportunity to blame spiralling inflation on Putrajaya's poor handling of 1MDB.

He said some BN leaders are telling voters that the cost-of-living in Malaysia was still cheaper in Singapore, which would not placate voters.

"A lot of villagers are complaining about GST...If you go to the kampung and say inflation is only three percent, I think you will likely be chased out," he said.

He said that although BN believed that BR1M has reduced cost-of-living pressures, the cash handouts was not able to counteract the effects of GST.

Daim said his conversations with everyday Malaysians had revealed that the main grouse was inflation, 1MDB, issues concerning Mara, Felda, Tabung Haji, the depreciation of the ringgit and unemployed graduates.

"What will come from this disgruntlement, we don't know...

"I can only say that the way (BN) is handling this is not sensitive enough," he said.

He said BN must explain why Malaysia did well without GST for 57 years while the damaging effects are being felt in just three years after the tax was introduced.

On Harapan's pledge to abolish GST, Daim said if a new government were to root out corruption, the money saved would be able to cover the shortfall.

On matters concerning Malay voters, such as the wellbeing of Tabung Haji, Mara and Felda, Daim said many unresolved issues had allowed discontent to fester.

"I'm told that the second generation Felda settlers are very angry. I have advised the government not to list Felda Global Ventures.

"But when you are not in government, who will listen to you? Tabung Haji contributors are similarly unhappy.

"We can see that (discontent) was reflected in Umno's rural support in 2008. In 2013, it got more severe.

"I don't know how big the impact will be this time around," he said.