A little over a week ago, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim commented that Malaysia’s national debt has now reached RM1.5 trillion and needs to be addressed urgently, as it translates to more than 80% of the nation’s annual economic output or gross domestic product (GDP).

AS we welcome 2023, one of the central themes this year will be how high will interest rates rise after the relentless pursuit taken by global central banks in fighting inflation with persistent and measured rate hikes in 2022.