DESPITE recent economic figures indicating positive growth, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin questioned whether they truly translated into improvements in the lives of ordinary Malaysians. He claimed that many are struggling with the rising cost of living, with salaries barely able to last the entire month. Hamzah also noted that while the official unemployment rate stands at 3.1%, he claimed that in reality, nearly two million Malaysians are currently underemployed. Hamzah recounted his recent visit to a village in Sembulan, Sabah, where many of the residents were living in impoverished conditions. “Foreign investors don’t make emotional decisions.

Source: The Star January 21, 2026 01:24 UTC