COMMENT | Statistics can be manipulated and even explained away, but in so doing, Finance Minister II Johari Abdul Ghani should not forget that the people’s livelihood is adversely affected with the inflation rate being at an all-time high since November 2008.

In fact, Johari should realise that on the ground, the pressure coming from an escalating cost of living is greater than what is reflected on the official Consumer Price Index (CPI).

As pointed out by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia lecturer Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli, “comparison of cost of living is not just limited to buying groceries - it goes far beyond that”.

For example, the lower currency exchange rate has also caused the prices of imported goods to escalate, dampening consumers’ sentiments.

If the country’s economy under Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak is properly managed, we would be more advanced than Singapore.

We are where we are today due to the government’s policies, which are largely unfriendly to the rakyat...