Kejelasan penting pastikan dasar ‘sukar’ diterima rakyat, kata Amir Hamzah

Kementerian Kewangan II Amir Hamzah Azizan stressed the importance of providing sufficient explanations for the bases implemented to ensure public acceptance, according to a report from the Forum Megatrends Khazanah. Using subsidies adjustment as an example, Amir noted that the government has found a formula to balance expenditures, promote better fiscal modernization, and ensure widespread understanding of the decision behind the measures.

The government has been conducting subsidies adjustment for over two years, and so far, there have been no street protests. Amir emphasized the significance of clarity during a recent forum. National Investment Development Authority chairman Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir and its board member Nungsari Ahmad Radhi also attended the event.

Amir was asked about how the government makes difficult decisions for the benefit of the public. Recently, it was reported that government expenditure on subsidies fell by 40.1% to RM23.43 billion in 2025 from RM39.10 billion in 2024, following the implementation of subsidy adjustment measures for diesel and petrol. Amir explained that making such decisions, including trade-offs, is not easy, and clear communication is essential for the adjustment process.

Amir stressed that eventually, every government decision has long-term implications. Therefore, he stressed that any action should not be taken hastily. For instance, Amir pointed out that even if a base affects only 10% of the population, that still amounts to 3.4 million people in Malaysia. Thus, even a small segment of the population will experience a significant change.