RECENTLY, the Pakatan Harapan propagandists have latched on to the World Bank report which forecast Malaysia’s GDP growth rate as slowing very marginally in 2018 and 2019 from 5.2% to 5% and to 4.8%.

One anonymous writer by the name of “Athena Athena” wrote and alarmist piece in The Malaysian Insight with the headline Latest World Bank report bad news for BN, saying that this is indication that Malaysia is in trouble – despite the fact that the World Bank report clearly praised Malaysia’s policies and prospects while stating the risk is due to the global economy.

This is also despite the fact that even at a 4.8% growth rate for a county of our size is considered very good.

Other PH propagandist latched on to this to cry “gloom and doom”, such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s blogger “OutSyed The Box” who wrote:

“In the US, if there is a decline in GDP growth over three quarters (9 months) then they say the economy is in a recession. Here the WB is forecasting a decline in GDP growth over TWO years – 24 months.”

I am not sure where he learned his economics from but a recession is technically defined as two consecutive quarters of negative (below zero) growth or contraction – not three periods of slowing growth.

This is the type of misleading and obviously wrong propaganda that PH if famous for using to cheat and confuse the public, which has the effect of sabotaging our economy by eroding consumer confidence.

The PH propagandist, however, did not mention that in the World Bank’s original forecast for Malaysia in December 2016, it forecast Malaysia’s rate to rise from 4.3% in 2017 to 4.6% in 2018 and 2019.

However, due to Malaysia registering superb GDP growth rates so far in 2017, the World Bank raised its forecast for Malaysia twice.

In the World Bank’s latest forecast in October, it now expects Malaysia to grow 5.2% in 2017, 5% in 2018 and 4.8% in 2019 – all of which is much higher than the original December 2016 report.

This upward revision also means instead of Malaysia’s growth increasing slightly from 2017 to 2019 (albeit at a lower level), its forecast now shows Malaysia’s growth declining slightly but at a higher rate compared with the original forecast.

This is why I believe the opposition are irresponsible people who would twist obviously good news to make it bad news just for the purposes of sabotaging our economy and lying to the people for their votes – all just because they want to grab power.

When caught out with facts, the opposition will then go on personal attacks against the those correcting them, thinking that scolding others can distract from and hide the fact that they lied. – October 16, 2017.

* Eric See-To is deputy director, Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications. 

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.