A minister today advised civil servants against easily believing news of Malaysia being bankrupt circulated on social media.

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said they should evaluate the real economic situation.

Malaysia would be incapable of registering an extraordinary GDP growth of 5.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2017 if the social media claim was true, he said to reporters after attending a Merdeka Month appreciation event at the ministry here.

He said the mega projects of the government, such as the Pan Borneo Highway, East Coast Rail Link and Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail, were proof of a sound national economy.

"Therefore, we have to be rational and not accept wholesale what is being circulated on social media. We have to question how these huge projects can be implemented if the country is bankrupt," he said.

Ismail Sabri said allegations of Malaysia being bankrupt were spread by irresponsible elements to confuse the people and not to seek the truth behind the claims.

"Their task is to confuse the people and they regard it as an achievement once the people start asking questions," he said.

-- BERNAMA