KUALA LUMPUR : President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong), Tan Sri T.C Goh has urged Malaysians of all races to rally behind the ‘unity government’ in stimulating the economy and to combat spiraling inflation.
In his New Year Message issued today, he said this was in line with the aspiration and emphasis of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, where he promised during his maiden press conference, after being appointed as the 10th PM that, the immediate focus of the ‘unity government’ is to tackle the rising cost of living and bring down inflation.
“Although democracy and politics are dynamic and often full of uncertainties, Malaysians nonetheless are hoping that with the general elections is now over, there will be a long-lasting political stability, and all quarters, including political parties from both sides of the divide, will rally behind the ‘unity government’ to steadily steer the nation out of the Covid-19 pandemic, to resuscitate and stimulate the economy, and to combat inflation,” he said.
He continued that the selection of the Chinese character of “ 涨 (zhǎng)” which means “rising” (cost of living), as the “Chinese character for the year 2022”, fully reflected the people’s deep concern over spiraling inflation, besides the devastating economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) noted that spiraling inflation is currently a global phenomenon where, even Singapore and Taiwan too have chosen the same Chinese character, as the “Chinese character for the year 2022”.
He acknowledged that with the persisting Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing global economic recession, the year ahead is quite gloomy and worrisome.
He further noted that, besides the pandemic, economic slowdown and rising inflation, the international political arena too has been volatile in 2022. And, despite a positive-sounding outcome following the meeting between China President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, during the 2022 G20 Summit held in Bali, in last November, it seems that the trade war between US and China has become more intensive, especially moving towards “technological war”, with the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) being dragged into it. This may potentially cause tension across the Taiwan straits to escalate, in near future.
The other pressing issue worth serious attention of the global community is the ongoing global food and supply chain crisis triggered by the Russia invasion of Ukraine. As long as the said arm conflict is unresolved, it will continue to cause far-reaching devastating havoc to the entire world, triggering high inflation or making it worse.
Goh was nonetheless hopeful that the ‘unity government’ under the capable leadership of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, would be able to steadily steer the country ahead to greater stability and economic growth, in the coming year 2023.
