When it comes to Malaysia, what you see is not what you get.

Despite financial scandals that have dominated headlines, particularly those involving state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Prime Minister Najib Razak’s position looks secure and the country is doing rather well economically, said Mr Ong Keng Yong, Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large.

“Singaporeans going to Malaysia always think they know Malaysia very well… But sorry, you don’t know Malaysia because what you see is not what you get,” said Mr Ong in a special address at The Straits Times Global Outlook Forum yesterday.

… Malaysia’s gross domestic product growth last year was 6 per cent, while this year it is growing at 4 to 5 per cent – higher than Singapore’s growth, which is under 3 per cent, he said.