Positives in Malaysia: Inflation, Unemployment and GDP

Positives in Malaysia: Inflation, Unemployment and GDP.

Just positive numbers, I wonder if people will read

Yeah, to be honest, if I write a negative article, it usually get a lot more views. However, when it’s a positive news about Malaysia, it seems that everyone already know about it and thus they are not clicking or they just hate good news and prefer bad news instead. This is why I think most media’s titles are all about how dire situation is, how things are worsening and how every day is becoming ever harder with everyone suffering from financial difficulties etc.

Three important numbers and all are positive

Inflation remains very much under control, it was 1.6 percent in December. Yes, by any standard at all, this is low yeah. (Info Source: theedgemalaysia.com) We would usually have a low inflation when the economy is not doing well, when people are not really buying, thus prices have to come down to attract buyers. Is this the case though? Well, we have a lot of demand for goods and services because it seems that everyone has a job.

Unemployment rate is hovering at the lowest point in a very long time. 2.9 percent. Again, this number is an extremely low one. Some comparisons? USA is at 4.4 percent. Australia’s at 4.3 percent. Britain’s at 5.1 percent and perhaps only Singapore is at a more positive number at 2 percent. New Zealand’s unemployment rate is at 5.3 percent. If we intend to look for a job and we are not choosy, 2.9 percent means there are more jobs than there are people looking for them yeah. 4 percent is said to be full employment in economic term.

Since everyone has a job, that means the economy is doing well, right? Yes, it is. GDP for Q4 is higher than what many have forecasted. It grew by 5.7 percent. Businesses are hiring which meant their business is doing well. If not doing well, why hire… Car sales hit a new high despite 2024 already being super duper high. Well, it is forecasted that 2026 could be lower than 2025. Nothing to do with slowdown, people just could not believe the extremely high numbers of 2025. So, they needed to adjust to be more converative.

More money to Malaysians. 8.1 million recipients will receive RM8 billion

Article in nst.com.my Touching on cost-of-living measures, he said the government would continue the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) this year, with a total allocation of RM15 billion — the highest so far — benefiting about nine million recipients.

He said Sara’s monthly payments for 2026 began on Jan 9, involving five million recipients, and from today, the disbursement would be extended to 3.1 million single recipients.

Overall, Sara for 2026 would benefit 8.1 million recipients with RM8 billion, compared with 5.4 million recipients and RM5 billion last year, with the number of participating small retail shops under the programme targeted to rise to 10,000 by end-2026. Article in nst.com.my

Happy spending fellow Malaysians.

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