Anwar: Subsidy rationalisation must not come at the expense of the poor

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized during the 14th Malaysia Madani Scholar Forum that the implementation of subsidy rationalisation must not jeopardise the wellbeing of the poor. He stressed that the government's economic reform agenda must confront corruption and the leakage of national funds. While rationalisation measures, such as reducing petrol subsidies, are crucial to alleviate the fiscal burden and reduce waste, Anwar stressed their implementation must consider the daily struggles of the majority of Malaysian citizens. He affirmed that governance should guarantee that everyone has food on the table.

Anwar argued that subsidies for the poor should not be perceived solely as a source of dependency, but rather should be evaluated based on their needs to sustain life and opportunities to improve economic standing. He suggested that welfare assistance creating prolonged dependency should be improved by providing job opportunities and empowering recipients' economic capabilities, rather than cutting subsidies to the point of neglecting their basic welfare.

Furthermore, Anwar stressed that economic reform will only succeed if accompanied by a commitment to integrity and accountability from the corporate sector and all levels of government administration. He demanded a comprehensive commitment from ministries, departments, government agencies, and government-linked companies to curb fund leakages and malpractices.

This, he stressed, is crucial for ensuring government allocations and aid reach the target groups, thereby enabling the Madani economic policy to be implemented based on principles of justice and humanity.