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

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that rationalizing subsidies should not jeopardize the well-being of the poor, while the economic reform agenda must aggressively address corruption and fund leakage, at the 14th Malaysia Madani Scholar Forum. He stressed that subsidy rationalization measures, such as reducing RON95 petrol subsidies, must consider the daily struggles of the majority of the population who are still finding it hard to meet their basic needs.

Anwar reiterated that the government's responsibility is to ensure that everyone has enough to eat, and that subsidies for the poor should not be viewed as a form of dependency, but rather as a tool to sustain life and provide opportunities for economic improvement. He stressed that real welfare assistance should focus on providing job opportunities and enhancing the economic capabilities of recipients, rather than reducing subsidies to the point where basic welfare is neglected.

Anwar also called for a comprehensive commitment from all levels of government administration and the corporate sector to curb fund leakages and corruption, as any form of embezzlement or malpractice would undermine the effectiveness of government allocations and aid in reaching the intended beneficiaries.