Economic issues really matter in coming general election

THE year 2018 carries two important milestones for Malaysia. First, 2018 is the Mid-Term Review of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016-2020), whereby the Economic Planning Unit of Prime Minister Department will take stock of our economic achievements and development programmes in 2016-17, including reassess key macroeconomic strategies, initiatives, and targets in our quest towards becoming a high-income and developed nation status in 2020.

Secondly, it also marks the year of charting our country’s future political landscape as the 14th general election (GE14) of Malaysia must be held by June 24, 2018. All signs point to the election to be held between end-April and early May. Amid political fatigue among Malaysians, GE14 remains much anticipated general election in recent decades, to the extent some political leaders of Umno, the dominant ruling party of Barisan Nasional dubbed it as “Mother of Elections”.