Najib advises youth on difference between living costs and lifestyle spending

Yasmin Ramlan Yasmin Ramlan Updated 6 years ago · Published on 22 Feb 2018 11:59AM · 4 Comments

A screen grab from a social media broadcast about the economy with Prime Minister Najib Razak and moderator Fizo Omar. – The Malaysian Insight pic, February 22, 2018.

PRIME Minister Najib Razak today advised young Malaysians to differentiate between high living costs and lifestyle spending, reminding them they had a choice and to spend within their means.

Speaking in a social media broadcast about the economy and the government’s policies under Budget 2018 (Bajet 2018: Bersama rakyat, Kesejahteraan isi rumah), Najib, who is also finance minister, gave a few examples about the differences, such as spending on a meal at a Japanese restaurant in a hotel and a meal at a 24-hour mamak eatery.

Najib was answering questions from social media users on how the government planned to educate youth on the difference between living costs and lifestyle spending.

“Lifestyle (spending is) for example when we go to a Japanese restaurant in a well-known hotel, where you have to pay, say RM800 to RM1,000 per person, depending on what you order.

“But if you went to a 24-hour mamak, how much would the cost be?” Najib said, to which the programme moderator, Fizo Omar, replied, “RM8”.

Najib then mentioned the Nasi Vanggey restaurant in Ipoh where a meal can be eaten for RM4.80 a plate.

Both experiences – a meal at the pricey Japanese restaurant or at Nasi Vanggey – would bring satisfaction to the consumer, but the difference in cost was huge, he added.

“The Nasi Vanggey shop still retains its prices at RM4.80. I tell you, it’s delicious and it’s adequate in terms of nutrition. It’s only RM4.80. And you feel full.

“If you eat at a Japanese restaurant, you can pay RM1,000 and feel full, too. But the fullness from nasi vanggey is different than the fullness from eating at the Japanese restaurant. 

“It’s your choice,” Najib said.

He said he was not out to prevent Malaysians from enjoying a higher quality of life, but was merely reminding them about making choices that were within their means.

“It doesn’t mean we want to stop people from having a better quality of life.

“Yes, of course, we hope we will progress upwards, but live within your means. If you live within you means, you’ll be all right.” – February 22, 2018.

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Comments

  • Najib teaching about spending is like a terrorist teaching about peace or a rapist about love.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Or Harvey Weinstein giving lessons about relationship with women..

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • I strongly believe PM still don't understand the suffering of rakyat due to GST which leads to whole mess. Every rakyat pays GST, but the return from him only a small portion enjoy the benefits. But, he claims everyone enjoy the return benefits. Dia ni Betul Ke tak Betul ni. Jika I kata Bangang, MCMC cari i pula.

    Posted 6 years ago by Jay Jay · Reply

  • Luckily he did not speak about Kangkong. Otherwise, episode 2 will come.

    Posted 6 years ago by Sam Ng · Reply