GEORGE TOWN: The country’s economic statistics are more ‘believable’ and ‘genuine’ under the Pakatan Harapan government.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid said this could be seen from Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s efforts to constantly give a true picture of the country’s economy.
“The statistics now are more believable. This is very important as investment decisions are based on statistics released.
“Lim has been honest in issuing the right statistics, and we now know our real economic situation,” he told newsmen after the launch of a book entitled Views From Pulau Pinang, here, today.
Munir, who is also the chairman of CIMB Asean Research Institute, said the government was on the right track to return Malaysia to its glorious past in the eyes of the world.
Nevertheless, he said, the government must take proactive measures, especially in the economy and education, owing to stiff competition from neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Indonesia.
“In Southeast Asia, Malaysia is the second most developed nation after Singapore, but Thailand is fast catching up.
“We can give the government time but not long,” he sad.
In a separate development, Munir, who is a former group editor of the New Straits Times, said he hoped that journalists would continue to produce reports that benefitted society.
He said journalists needed to be critical, especially when raising issues and reprimanding the government over policies that were not beneficial to the country.
“Under the new government, it is hoped that journalists will be more critical of nonsensical government policies,” he added.
