When you run a country like a rich man's playground and allow loose capital to slosh around in the monetary system, massive inflation occurs.
Take your passport and head over to City Square in JB for fast food (or slow food). The price difference compared with SG is mind staggering.
Things have always been cheaper in JB, but that is not the main point. The main point is that over the last 6-8 years, there has been a massive erosion of purchasing power due to inflation. And it happened by design.