KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia may not be in an economic crisis at the moment, but there is no denying that those in the middle-income and lower classes are feeling the strain on their pockets. Just ask anyone.

Even those who receive regular monthly salaries and those who have set aside something for that rainy day are feeling stretched with the ringgit now beyond 4.00 to the greenback, higher than the 1998 Asian Economic Crisis peg at 3.80.

Bank Negara Governor Zeti Aziz Akhtar has urged Malaysians to learn to make a lifestyle switch to weather the cloudy economic climate ahead, which she also said will last a while.

But Prime Minister Najib Razak has also asked Malaysians to share with him their wishes for the upcoming Budget next year.

Taking that into account, Malay Mail Online went around and asked several interest groups — consumer group Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), as well as youth groups GAMIS and UndiMsia!, the National House Buyers Association (HBA) and public transport advocacy group Transit — for their views. MALAY MAIL ONLINE