{
  "id": 13154761,
  "title": "‘Belanjawan pilihan raya’, kata pakar ekonomi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/belanjawan-pilihan-raya-kata-pakar-ekonomi-13154761",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-09T15:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/10/09/belanjawan-pilihan-raya-kata-pakar-ekonomi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Economic experts describe the 2027 Budget as a \"budget of choices\" featuring cash assistance, subsidies, and tax relief. However, challenges remain due to low wages, disparity in aid distribution, and the high government expenditure. Petaling Jaya-based Sunway University economist Kim Leng notes that the budget focuses on reducing living costs and stimulating the economy in the short term. Increasing the cash assistance and subsidies aimed at providing immediate relief and short-term stimulation indicates the features of a \"budget of choices,\" she tells FMT. Increasing the tax relief for individual income earners from RM9,000 to RM12,000 will also give more money to save for those with lower incomes. However, Universiti Putra Malaysia economist Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff believes the success of the budget needs to be evaluated by how much it can increase household income and ensure aid reaches those who truly need it. While expanding the aid, Razman raises concerns about whether it is enough for people facing high living costs or additional responsibility of caregiving. He also questions the government expenditure, which accounts for almost 82% of the total RM460 billion budget, thus limiting development spending to RM83 billion. According to Razman, the success of the budget should not be measured solely by the amount of aid announced, but how well the aid reaches its target group and the economic growth that generates more jobs and better income. In 2027 Budget, the government announced an increase in basic cash assistance (SARA) to RM150 per month for up to nine million beneficiaries. The government also allocated RM1.3 billion to help almost 200,000 wealthy individuals. However, Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia economist Barjoyai Bardai says while the budget tackles pressing issues like healthcare, aid to the wealthy, and contract doctors, tackling low wages still falls short. Even with the increase in minimum wage to RM2,000 starting next June, he estimates that local workers would need between RM2,300 to RM2,400 to cover living costs. \"Encouraging the private sector and government-linked companies to increase wages is commendable, but it is not mandatory. The M40 group and those with lower incomes may continue to be left behind. \"Reducing income tax rates or increasing tax relief can help alleviate their financial burden,\" he says.",
  "summary": "Gaji rendah, jurang bantuan dan perbelanjaan mengurus kerajaan yang tinggi kekal menjadi kebimbangan utama.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "‘Belanjawan pilihan raya’, kata pakar ekonomi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/belanjawan-pilihan-raya-kata-pakar-ekonomi",
        "published": "2026-10-09T15:01:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}