KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak needs the country’s economy to keep humming despite mounting obstacles in order to silence critics of his administration, according to The Economist yesterday.

The London-based business paper noted that while Najib has been confronted with a series of issues — from bacterial infection to political infighting and natural disasters — he will be most measured by his ability to maintain Malaysia’s progress.

“Much will depend on the economy, for which Mr Najib, who is both prime minister and finance minister, is seen as having full responsibility,” said The Economist.

Noting Putrajaya’s progress in weaning the country off its dependence on oil revenue, it pointed out that the ongoing oil price slump has still cut deeply into the country’s coffers, a situation that is exacerbated by the pressing need to rein in chronic public overspending.

“But spending cuts may unsettle the public, which is already swallowing a new tax for goods and services,” it added, referring to the April 1 implementation of the goods and services tax.

The Economist also pointed out moves by Najib to appease critics within his own Umno, most notably the retention and promised expansion of the Sedition Act that he had promised repeatedly to repeal as part of his legal reforms.

Last month, the Najib administration announced a revision to its budget for 2015 in response to plunging oil prices — global crude oil prices have dipped to less than half of the federal government’s estimated average of US$110 (RM396) per barrel for 2015.

The prime minister also announced a RM5.5-billion cut in Putrajaya’s operating expenditure this year and adjusted the deficit reduction target to 3.2 per cent of the national economy instead of the original 3 per cent, while maintaining the RM48.5 billion development budget.

He also reduced the growth forecast for the country’s gross domestic product for 2015 to between 4.5 and 5.5 per cent, from the previous target of 5.0 to 6.0 per cent.