Advisory panel’s tough task to dispel economic gloom

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — When the government gives out appointment letters to 30 members of the council of economic advisors soon, they should include a general caution — failure is not an option.

Not with the general sinking feeling about the economy.

A survey conducted by the Merdeka Centre in early July only confirmed that Malaysians are worried about their jobs, rising prices and generally expect things to get worse over the next 12 months.

Some 1,000 registered voters were polled between July 1 and 14 and the margin of error was three per cent.

The polling company asked similar questions about the economy in February and July to gauge the confidence level of Malaysians about the economy.

Six in 10 Malaysians say that the most important factor affecting the country is the economy.

Corruption, political upheaval and the sodomy allegations against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have been dominating the headlines since the March 8 general election, but Malaysians are uninterested.

They have more real concerns. With inflation surging at 7 per cent, many are finding it difficult to make ends meet.

In February, 59 per cent of Malaysians thought that the economy was favourable. In July, only 24 per cent felt the same.

And this percentage is going to get much lower. Only 20 per cent of those polled believed that there would be an upturn in the economy in a year.

Government officials also know that more challenging times are ahead. They believe that over the next 24 months will see the country facing a recession, the result of a global economic slowdown, runaway inflation.

To come up with plans to cushion the effects of the economic slowdown, the government has decided to set up a council of economic advisors.

The Malaysian Insider has learnt that some of the members of the council will be corporate captains, ministers and representatives of the private sector.

They will have their work cut out for them given the gloom and doom surrounding the Malaysian economy.

-TMI