Look into rising OPR, Kasthuri Patto tells PM Anwar

SHAH ALAM - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should look into the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) which is expected to rise again twice next year, urges former Batu Kawan MP.

Kasthuri Patto, through her Twitter account, questioned Anwar on which agencies or community would benefit from the OPR increase next year.

"Who is going to benefit from an OPR increase twice next year Mr PM @anwaribrahim? The banks?

"How will that affect the 'marhaen' (low-income) community on the ground? Please please look into this PM," she said.

Kathuri also stressed that her concern remained on the impact the OPR increase would have on the people's pockets and their expenditure next year.

"I may not be an expert in economics but my concern is on what the double increase was going to do to the lower and middle class," she said.

OPR is the interest rate which a bank lends to another bank which is set by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

This rate affects the country's employment, economic growth and inflation, it is an indicator of the health of a country's overall economy and banking system.

Malaysia's OPR increased four times this year and it was also reported that the nation expects two more 25-basis-point increases to 3.25 percent from 2.75 percent (current).