{
  "id": 18644518,
  "title": "Anwar: Subsidy rationalisation must not come at the expense of the poor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/anwar-subsidy-rationalisation-must-not-come-at-the-expense-of-the-poor",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T05:18:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/11/07/anwar-subsidy-rationalisation-must-not-come-at-the-expense-of-the-poor/242330"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nAnwar 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.\n\nFurthermore, 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.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — The implementation of subsidy rationalisation must not under any circumstances compromise th...",
  "key_points": [
    "Prime Minister Anwar emphasizes subsidy rationalisation should not harm the poor",
    "Government must address corruption and fund leakage during reforms",
    "Subsidies for poor should ensure basic needs, not create dependency"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing targeted welfare over blanket assistance shifts the government's role from providing simple dependency to fostering economic empowerment while demanding strict accountability to prevent fund leakages.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}