Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has found that 30 percent of Malaysians feel their debts are burdensome, which seems to be a long-term problem among salaried workers in Malaysia.

BNM financial inclusion department director Nor Rafidz Nazri said the debts were acquired during the respondents’ early working life, during their youth, and often for unproductive purposes.

“This behaviour is often driven by fear of...