KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Congested highways during school holidays contradict public perception that the economy is bad, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said today.
“If we feel the economy is bad and we feel it, then it’s true. But whether it is bad or not, it is up to us,” Nazri said at a special no-holds-barred session titled “Kepochi Session Vol.6, Isu Semasa: Apa Kata Chief?” at the Malaysian Tourism Centre here in Jalan Ampang.
“But in Malaysia, I don’t feel our economy is bad because I believe we live okay. Every school holidays, I see highway is jammed. Though they say economy is bad, but highway is jammed. If highway is jammed that means people are spending,” he added.
Nazri said that the service and export sectors in particular had contributed to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) 5.6 per cent growth in the first quarter this year.
According to Bank Negara, the robust growth, compared to 4.5 per cent in the previous quarter, was a result of a substantial increase in domestic demand and investment from the private sector.
