PORT DICKSON: The government will focus on strategies to tackle the cost of living in the 2025 Budget, scheduled in Oct.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia's inflation rate remained low at two per cent, compared with Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.
"Alhamdulilah, since we implemented the Madani economy, we have seen economic performance rise to 5.9 per cent, and inflation is under control.
"I have just returned from Vladivostok, where I met with President (Vladimir) Putin.
"Russia's inflation rate is at eight per cent.
"He was proud that they had managed to control it to that extent. Even with our two per cent inflation, people say the prime minister is useless," he said at the 2024 National Wellness Month celebration here today (Sept 8).
Present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
Meanwhile, Anwar cited an example of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who directed his finance minister to review and discuss the nation's economic situation.
"President Erdogan asked his finance minister to review and discuss the situation because while Turkey's tourism sector is doing well, inflation is high.
"Can you guess Turkey's inflation rate? It is at 40 per cent."
He said Malaysia should not move in that direction and should manage the economy effectively.
Anwar visited Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept 4 and 5 to deliver a keynote address at the Plenary session of the Ninth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF 2024).
This was Anwar's first visit to Russia since being appointed as prime minister in Nov 2022.