KUALA LUMPUR: The government should enhance economic recovery efforts and give more aid to the so-called "Makcik Kiah" or regular working people as well as the B40 and M40 income groups, in addition to higher wage subsidies although its debt level has almost breached the statutory limit of 60 per cent, said economist Muhammed Abdul Khalid.

The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia economist reiterated that Malaysia's financial situation still allows it to channel more aid to the people and that the country should consider raising funds locally due to lower interest rates.

"Take the economic crisis of 1986 for example, the national debt level was over 100% and in less than 10 years, the country managed to strengthen its fiscal standing and recorded a surplus," he said today on the Malaysia Petang Ini TV programme in response to the National Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) worth RM150bil.

He noted that the various aid programmes that had been announced came up to only six per cent of the national economy.

To date, the government has announced eight economic stimulus and aid packages worth RM530 billion.

"Of this RM530 billion, the government has only forked out RM83 billion, while RM120 billion is from the EPF, moratorium (RM210 bilion) and the rest... if you compare with regional neighbours, Thailand spends more than Malaysia although the lockdown in this country is among the longest in this region.

"Let me emphasise, Malaysia can afford to give four times the wage subsidy that has been given to local companies and this will benefit 5.5 million workers, monthly aid to Makcik Kiah as well as the B40 and M40 income groups," Muhammed said, adding that the economy has not recovered considering the 5.6 per cent contraction last year.

"The economy is not recovering and not expanding compared to pre-COVID-19, considering there was a contraction of 5.6 percent last year and a forecast of only four per cent growth this year," he said.

Muhammed said economic growth must take into account the wage factor and other variables, not just the gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

GDP growth does not reflect the real economic situation, and from 2016 to 2019, the country's poverty rate increased from 16 per cent to 17 per cent although the GDP recorded growth, he added.

According to government figures, the average wage level went down nine per cent in 2020, the first decrease since this statistic was recorded in 2010.

From a workforce of 13 million people in the country, those who receive wages number 9.8 million workers.

After two consecutive years of the average wage being recorded at over RM3,000, it went down to RM2,933 in 2020 compared to RM3,224 in 2019.

Muhammed said Malaysians who have lost their jobs jumped 41 per cent last year, and this shows

the economy is not in a good place, therefore more aid is needed to hasten economic recovery.

-- BERNAMA