PETALING JAYA: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng is being defensive over Moody's rating on the Malaysian economy, according to MCA Youth.

Here is the statement by MCA Youth deputy chairman Tan Chee Hiong in full:

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng selectively believes the expert’s rating report on the Malaysian economy, and has consistently adopted a “fire-fighting trilogy” for any critic who questions the government’s performance: denial, questioning and counterattack.

However, the only thing that has not been done is a proposal for a specific solution for this.

Our country must assess the country’s debt situation based on international credit rating, rather than letting Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng interpret the state of the country’s economy as he likes.

Moody’s is one of the world’s renowned credit rating agencies.

Its report is often a combination of a number of positive and negative commentaries, which are conducive and the assessments are fair.

But Lim Guan Eng has repeatedly overthrown the experts’ concerns about the Malaysian economy.

He even called this a malicious move to vilify the government, and refuted the report of the international rating agency, by accusing Moody’s of not understanding the debt situation of the Malaysian government. Who is the real expert here?

Lim Guan Eng has repeatedly and publicly refuted Moody’s report.

In fact the Ministry of Finance has only issued a statement once to compliment Moody’s confidence in the country.

How can the people not worry about the country’s economy with this sort of Minister who only wants praises but not constructive criticisms?

At present, the price of all goods has risen, and many people are under great pressure as their wallets are feeling squeezed.

This is especially so with Chinese New year approaching, as more expenses are expected during this time.

All are feeling the pressure of not having enough money to spend.

Tan Chee Hiong

MCA Youth deputy chairman