Joseph Tan High Quotations

The high value of pharmaceutical exports can cause a lot of volatility in the numbers when they swing from month to month. Electronics exports show there is still strength in the technology sector and the trend is that we'll have a good first half.

It should not be introduced at high levels, where it will shock the economy. Instead, the GST should be gradually eased in and the list of taxable goods expanded over time.

Inflation is still higher than nominal interest rates, and this is a clear sign that monetary conditions are highly accommodative in Malaysia and the need for interest rates to return to a neutral level.