BARISAN Nasional fears that the rising cost of living might cause the coalition to lose votes at GE14, the Straits Times reported today.

The 14th general election must be held by August 2018 and BN is grappling with the issue of inflation – which hit an eight-year high in January – which keeps climbing up to March, says the report.

Many are blaming the 6% goods and services tax introduced in April 2015 and a weaker ringgit for pushing up the cost of imports.

A minister was quoted as saying the rakyat are worried about stretching their ringgit and unhappy about the GST.

The Singapore daily, citing pollster Merdeka Centre, said economic concerns were foremost on the minds of 74% of voters, far ahead of ethnic and political discord, at 3% and 2% respectively.

Inflation was the most important issue for six out of 10 Malaysians, and for more than three-quarters of Muslims, who make up two-thirds of the electorate.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, however, insists that Malaysia’s cost of living remains the lowest in South-east Asia. He based his assertion on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) rankings in April.

“In the government’s effort to take Malaysia towards becoming a high-income nation, the cost of living issue is the government’s main focus.

“We have put in a lot of effort to ensure the people are not burdened by the cost of living. Among them are price controls by the authorities, distributing BR1M (1Malaysia People’s Aid), removing the middle man and others,” Najib said in his blog. – June 5, 2017.