Kuala Lampur, Jan. 24 -- Having spent some time talking to people across Malaysia, the message I have received is remarkably consistent. They trust what they feel in their wallets, not what they read in reports on economic growth.

Many Malaysians today feel disconnected from the official economic success story - rising food cost, childcare, rent, insurance, and transport dominate their daily struggle. On paper, the economy appears strong. GDP is growing (estimated at 4.9 per centfor 2025, surpassing official expectations), and key macroeconomic indicators - investment, trade, employment, and the currency - are all moving in the right direction.

Yet for many households, daily life feels unchanged or even more difficult. This dissonance h...