KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 ― Malaysians who have higher academic qualifications are unlikely to struggle with higher living costs, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

He added that most Malaysians struggling now is because they only have formal schooling up to SPM or Form Five at most and lacked skills that could land them better-paying jobs.

“One of the biggest reasons for high living costs pressures is because the people still have low education levels.

“If we only have SPM qualification and do not have a diploma, degree or skills, we won't be able to get jobs that pay well,” Najib said in the Dewan Rakyat.

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The Pekan MP also said Malaysians need to look beyond SPM qualifications and improve on their minimum academic qualifications.

“We want to increase on the number of Malaysians who have extra qualifications. We must think more than the 11 years of SPM education.

“When people have better qualifications they can earn more.We need to plant this in the people's mind,” Najib added.

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He was responding to a question from Bagan Serai MP Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali who asked how the current lifestyle of Malaysians would affect the cost of living here.