Malaysia’s Anwar set to unveil crowd-pleasing budget as political pressure rises
Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim is expected to roll out a populist budget on Friday aimed at placating voter concerns over the cost of living and access to essential services, experts say, as the prime minister seeks to shore up support ahead of a general election that could be called as soon as next year. Anwar’s coalition government is under mounting pressure amid a deepening feud with Umno. The Malay…
Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim is set to present a budget on Friday that is expected to address voter concerns over the cost of living and access to essential services, as the prime minister aims to bolster support ahead of potential early elections. Anwar's coalition government is facing pressure from within due to a dispute with the Malay nationalist party Umno, which has called for early elections following their victory in recent state polls.
The anticipated budget for 2027 is expected to include higher cash handouts, targeted subsidies, and measures to boost wages and skills training for lower-income Malaysians. Experts predict increased monthly cash aid for household necessities, financial assistance for civil servants and pensioners, and expanded government-backed pension and insurance for gig workers.
Some measures could involve adjusting electricity pricing to help cushion the impact of rising costs. Anwar's budget is seen as crucial in rebuilding political confidence around cost-of-living issues and addressing the government's weak support among Malay voters, who make up roughly 60% of Malaysia's 34 million population.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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