{
  "id": 12082603,
  "title": "Govt’s subsidy spending down 40% to RM23bil in 2025",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/govts-subsidy-spending-down-40-to-rm23bil-in-2025",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-05T05:16:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/05/govt-s-subsidy-spending-down-40-to-rm23bil-in-2025"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2025, the government's subsidy spending decreased by 40.1% to RM23.43 billion, according to the auditor-general's report. This reduction was partly attributed to a significant drop in global crude oil prices and targeted subsidies for diesel and petrol. The RM15.67 billion decrease was primarily due to a sharp decline in petroleum product subsidies, which dropped from RM34.91 billion in 2024 to RM19.11 billion in 2025. Global crude oil prices fell from US$80.81 per barrel in 2024 to US$69.05 per barrel in 2025, further contributing to the reduction in subsidies. Petrol subsidies decreased by 46.5% to RM10.51 billion, while diesel subsidies fell by 48.2% to RM5.98 billion. Additionally, LPG subsidies saw a 29.1% reduction to RM2.63 billion. In contrast, welfare grants and assistance for communities, individuals, and families saw a substantial 380.8% increase to RM20.36 billion in 2025 from RM4.24 billion in 2024, driven by the disbursement of various assistance programs and operating costs.",
  "summary": "Fuel subsidies were nearly halved last year while welfare grants and assistance increased by 380%.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Govt’s subsidy spending down 40% to RM23bil in 2025",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/govts-subsidy-spending-down-40-to-rm23bil-in-2025-12083725",
        "published": "2026-10-05T05:16:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}