2022 FORWARD LOOKONG: THE CONCERN Top concerns over the past 12 months January 2021 - January 2022 (global country average) 50% 45 40 Coronavirus 35 OVID-19) Poverty and 30 social inequality Unemployment 25 Financial/political corruptie 20 e and violence 15 10 Jan '21 Apr '21 Jul '21 Oct '21 Jan '22 Research among adults aged 16-64 in 28 participating countries. c. 20,000 per month. January 2021 - January 2022 Source: Ipsos Global Advisor . Download image . Created with Datawrapper Figure 1 According to the latest Ipsos poll, COVID-19 is presently at the top of the world's concerns, with 35% stating it is one of the most pressing social and political issues affecting their country today. The Ipsos data assesses the world's anxieties between December 23, 2021, and January 7, 2022, after surveying respondents in 28 nations. Following COVID-19, the public's top five social and political concerns in January 2022 are as follows: poverty and social inequality (31%), unemployment (28%), financial and political corruption (27%), and crime and violence (27%). (26 percent ). As for Malaysia, the concern may differ according to the current economic status in the country. According to a World Bank assessment, Malaysia's economy is predicted to rise 5.5 percent this year, owing to improved domestic demand, more exports, and the reopening of borders. It stated that the external sector will continue to assist, particularly in the areas of electrical and electronic goods (E&E) and medical rubber gloves. However, among the major concern in Malaysia is the rising core inflation. Malaysia is experiencing inflationary pressures similar to the rest of the world, owing to the low base effect and supply interruptions. Worse, the rise in the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) has led to higher core inflation, while the Producer Price Index (PPI) has been on a tear, although some relaxation three months after topping 13.2% y-o-y growth in September 2021. Besides, it warned that if the global situation worsens due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, financial tightening in the United States, and structural slowdown in China, growth might slip to 4.8 percent "While the economy is projected to be on a recovery path, COVID-19, food inflation and floods are expected to weigh down progress on wellbeing of the poor and vulnerable," according to the World Bank's East Asia and Pacific (EAP) Economic Update April 2022 titled "Braving the Storm"