MUAR MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman claimed that Budget 2025 could trigger a class divide, particularly affecting the middle class, adding that this has the potential to harm households earning around RM7,000 a month.
He warned that families in the top 15 income bracket, which includes those earning a combined RM12,000, will lose access to essential subsidies for petrol, education, and healthcare.
With subsidies being cut for both the family and children, he fears that this approach may unfairly penalise middle-income earners and deepen socioeconomic divisions.
“According to the budget, the government announced that the top 15 (T15) of Malaysians will no longer receive subsidies for petrol, education, and healthcare. But what does the top 15 mean?
“In Malaysia, the top 15 of households earn about RM12,000. However, based on data from the Statistics Department, household income refers to the total income of all earners in a family, not individual income.
“So, if you’re earning RM7,000 a month today, you will lose access to education and healthcare subsidies – not just for yourself, but for your family and children as well,” Malaysiakini quoted Syed Saddiq as saying.
He added that with an average household of 3.8 people, families with two working members earning a combined RM12,000 would be denied these crucial subsidies. – Oct 19, 2024
