Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin has acknowledged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for stabilising the economy and strengthening Malaysia’s image among investors, but said many ordinary Malaysians have yet to feel the benefits on the ground.
According to Bloomberg, Khairy said strong macroeconomic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP) growth, lower unemployment and a stronger ringgit had not translated into meaningful relief for the average citizen.
“The man on the street is not feeling the macroeconomic numbers, the GDP growth, the lower unemployment, the stronger ringgit,” he was quoted as saying.
Malaysia’s economy expanded by 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of the year, outperforming regional neighbours such as Thailand and Singapore. The ringgit has also emerged as Asia’s best-performing currency against the US dollar for the second consecutive year.
Despite the positive economic data, Khairy said younger voters remain focused on everyday concerns including rising living costs, employment opportunities, identity issues and economic mobility.
He added that he understood these concerns because he remained closely connected to the public through conversations with Malaysians over the past three years.
Khairy pointed to his involvement in the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast alongside former Umno leader Shahril Hamdan, as well as his role as a radio presenter at Hot FM, as platforms that allowed him to engage directly with the rakyat.
Bloomberg also reported that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is counting on Khairy’s return to the party to help regain support from young Malay voters who distanced themselves from Umno following the 1MDB scandal.
Khairy was expelled from Umno in January 2023 after disciplinary action linked to the 15th General Election. Last month, he was among more than 6,000 former members readmitted into the party.
Commenting on his return, Khairy said Zahid had accepted him back into Umno “as he is”, while adding that he would continue to observe party discipline and decorum.
Khairy had previously been openly critical of Zahid ahead of the last general election, particularly after Barisan Nasional fielded him in the Pakatan Harapan stronghold of Sungai Buloh.
