KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been made aware of the many flaws in the figures on the country's financial position.

"I may need some time to study all the matters that are being briefed to me. In regards to financial position figures, I was made aware that many of these figures are fake. Hence, we have to determine how far it (the previous government) went beyond what was permitted," he told a press conference after attending a Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting today.

Dr Mahathir was responding to a question on whether the new government would have a new set of forecast on the country's economic growth this year.

Earlier today, Bank Negara Malaysia announced that the economy grew by 5.4% year on year in the first quarter of 2018, slowing from 5.9% in the fourth quarter 2017.