00:00The government should turn its focus back to a needs-based subsidy program
00:06rather than distributing aid based on one's income level, say several experts.
00:11Economist Jeffrey Williams said there are many instances where families in the top 10 to 15%
00:17of earners may need help. For example, he said a household with a disabled family member who
00:23requires 24-hour care would need healthcare subsidies even if they fall under the T15
00:28category. Similarly, the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations said a needs-based subsidy
00:36program promotes equity by prioritizing households with heavier financial burdens.
00:42Its CEO, T. Sarabanan, said this framework ensures that subsidies reach those who need them the most
00:48regardless of their income levels, rather than lumping households into generic income categories.
00:54He pointed out that two households with the same monthly income may have vastly different
00:58situations, with one supporting elderly parents or footing high medical expenses,
01:03and the other not burdened by such costs. When tabling the 2025 budget in October,
01:09Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had announced that several subsidies would be withdrawn for the T15
01:14group. This month, however, the government launched the Basic Expenditure of Decent Living
01:19Classification System, aimed at replacing the traditional B40, M40, and T20 segmentations.
01:27Natasha Biest, FMT News
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