We may be looking at the cost-of-living problem wrong

Why aren’t salaries rising as fast as the cost of living? When we talk about affordability, we usually focus on prices.

But there’s another side to it: income. Even when inflation slows, prices don’t necessarily go backwards. So over the long term, improving living standards also depends on creating opportunities for wages to grow sustainably.

That’s where productivity, skills and better-quality jobs come in. And importantly, economic growth alone doesn’t automatically mean higher wages for everyone.

The bigger question isn’t only “How do we keep things affordable?” It’s also: “How do we create an economy where Malaysians can earn more?” Bank Negara Malaysia explored this at Sasana Symposium 2026.