PRIME Minister Najib Razak’s economic plan has earned the country praise from the World Bank and should be a source of pride of all Malaysians, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

In a statement released today, Rahman said the latest World Bank report proves that Malaysia’s economic plan “has delivered and is continuing to deliver for the benefit of all Malaysians”.

This is the true record of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Razak. All Malaysians should be proud of that economic record,” he said.

The report by the international financial body noted that Malaysia’s GDP growth accelerated during the first half of 2017 to 5.7% and its economy is expected to grow 5.2% this year.

The report also said booming tourism is expected to boost Malaysia’s growth.

However, the World Bank also predicts that under current conditions, GDP will drop to 5% in 2018, and decrease further to 4.8% in 2019.

Rahman slammed an opinion piece which drew attention to this projected decline in growth, claiming that naysayers and those from opposition parties were intent on painting a glum economic outlook for the country.

“(The World Bank’s) overall verdict puts the lie to the unpatriotic allegation that the Malaysian economy is expected to worsen. Expected by whom?

“Only those who care for their country so little that they hope it does badly for their own selfish political gain.”

He said contrary to what the opposition claimed were warnings of slower economic growth, the report “is full of praise for how Malaysia is doing”. – October 11, 2017.