Govt has at least 6% less to spend this year due to low oil prices – time to run a tight ship

The Proton showroom in Auto-City.

MALAYSIANS have gone frugal. You do not need surveys to know that. Most of us are spending less because we are paying more for things. Subsidies on rice and bread do little to cushion the cost of houses and transportation.

I will not blame the Goods and Services Tax (GST) entirely – even if I do think starting at 6% was high – because most have been struggling with rising living costs even before the new tax.