Malaysia Suffers More Bad Press

I did wonder how much more damage the ruling coalition could possibly inflict on our nation.

Our ratings are down, and our once stellar reputation is steadily going down the drain.

From The Malaysian Insider:

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Events since New Year’s Day have given the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) the impression that the situation in Malaysia is becoming increasingly unstable.

In a blistering report on Malaysia released at the end of January, PERC also asserted that a group of elite minorities were dominating the national agenda to the extent that it was hurting Malaysia’s attractiveness to investors.

The consultancy, which also publishes reports on the risk ratings of other Asian countries, said it is “probable” that no other Asian country is suffering from as much bad press as Malaysia.

You'd think the government would know when to slink away quietly and lick its wounds in silence.

But no.

They issue a feeble response (albeit with plenty of posturing) that only serves to reiterate what PERC claims, what investors have long suspected and what we, unfortunately, already know.

On my drive back home from work yesterday, the newsreader almost sounded apologetic as she announced the government claims that someone out there has a "hidden agenda", which according to Muhyiddin Yassin is the reason behind this report.

"I think they must be talking through their nose," he said.

Yes, someone is talking through their nose indeed, but it certainly isn't PERC.