What does Sheila have to complain about with her income, Irwan asks

Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah has said that he is puzzled as to why Sheila Majid spoke out about the rising cost of living.

"Sheila Majid, why is she complaining about the cost of living? What's her income?" Irwan asked when speaking to the media at the launch of local e-wallet service, TaPay, at Cyberjaya today.

On Tuesday, the singer tweeted that Malaysians are angry for having to deal with a "debt" that they had no part in creating.

Irwan suggested, however, that people who make such complaints get confused between the cost of living, and the cost of lifestyle.

"The inflation is only 3.5 percent, but the annual salary increase is higher, at five to six percent, the salary (increment) should be able to cover the inflationary cost.

"There is another cost, the lifestyle cost. People always confused between the lifestyle cost and cost of living, if you add the lifestyle cost, then things are beyond your means," he said.

Irwan also stressed that the government has done a lot for the bottom 40 percent (B40) group.

"(We are giving) 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), education fees (free education), and RM1 hospital fees.

“Where in the world can you go to hospital and only pay RM1 ?" he asked.

Sheila’s tweet, which also touched on runaway inflation, unemployment and the depreciation of the ringgit, has since caused a firestorm of reactions.

[More to follow]

- Mkini