EARLIER today, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz claimed that Malaysia’s economy would continue to improve in the second quarter of the year.
According to The Star, he said that based on latest developments, the country’s economy is projected to grow between 5.3% and 6.3% this year, in tandem with forecast made by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Tengku Zafrul added that the nation’s unemployment rate had also dipped, from 649,300 to 637,700 in the preceding month, with the national unemployment rate remaining at 3.9%.
“Budget 2023 will emphasise structural reforms and boost economic resilience.
“With its theme ‘Strengthening Recovery, Facilitating Reforms Towards Sustainability of Economic Resilience and Well-Being of Keluarga Malaysia’, the Government will continue to focus on the well-being of the people, businesses and economy,” he was reported as saying.
However, not everyone was impressed with Tengku Zafrul’s bold projections and took him to task for being oblivious over what is happening on the ground.
“This is exactly what Sri Lankan Politicians was telling their people for years,” said user Helen Pereira.
Echoing Pereira’s sentiments, user Micheal Ung added:
Netizen Johari Zaini retorted: 
As the war in Ukraine escalates and Western powers imposing crippling sanctions on Russia, the global economy has become more volatile as fuel and food prices had shot up drastically.
As of yesterday, fuel prices were hovering at US$104.00 per barrel in the global market. In Malaysia, prices of essential items such as chicken, eggs and other meat products have shot up exponentially.
Doing the best he can
With the Ringgit weakening against the greenback, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Government was spending a whopping RM80 bil in subsidies alone to keep prices in check.
However, several other netizens praised Tengku Zafrul for doing his best despite the volatility in the world market.
User Azrul Ujang said:
Netizen Kawaii Varg IV remarked: “Imagine if LGE still our finance minister. We are totally doomed.” – July 10, 2022
