GDP 2008 is 4.6%

I was listening to Karen Carpenter's Yesterday Once More as I was browsing the Central Bank web site. The not good figures for 2008 justified my concern for the Malaysian economy. For 2008 GDP was 4.6% while Q4 2008 GDP was 0.1%

And now I am still listening to Karen carpenter's song wondering what the economy would be like in the next quarters. Obviously global auto industry is suffering and Proton is no exception. Few years back many quarters suggested Proton find a strategic partner mainly American or European car makers BUT Proton discard the idea and went alone except to renew its partnership with Mitsubishi. Should Proton made that partnership with any western auto makers I guess Proton too would have asked money from the government for restructuring.

Maybe now is the right time for us to ponder the sufferings of the refugees in Africa or even the Palestinians. To these people its not how much bonus or profit which concern them but rather how to put food on the table and sleep under some kind of shelter each night.

To all you smart financiers and economists out there, pull your strengths for new ideas. I have some but I am not a graduate from Saskatchewan yet. So I would put those on hold for the time being.

Overnight Policy Rates and SRR

I caution the decision by the Bank Negara Malaysia to reduce the OPR further down by 5o basis points to 2% as at 24th February 2009. The move by the Malaysian Central Bank could be a hint that a negative is expected for the 4th quarter 2008 GDP figure which is to be announced Friday 27 February 2009. Thus the ceiling rates is now 2.25% and floor rates 1.75% respectively.

Reducing the SRR by 1% to 1% commencing 1st March 2009 is seen now as a needed or just a gimmick. The problem is banks are NOT giving out loans to the needy. Banks have the money to create more money, its only the ordinary Malaysians who are broke.

Datuk Najib as the Finance Minister must take a bold action now. Are we gonna keep reducing OPR into the negatives or are we gonna continue spending public money as sinking funds? More measures must be tackle in the 2nd stimulus package which is to be announced on March 10th 2009. I am certain as an economics graduate Datuk Najib can look beyond fiscal and monetary aspects.

As a human I don't want to take the bus again or lose my home!