PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling the 2025 Budget announced that the government would be implementing targeted subsidies for RON95 petrol in mid-2025.
He said this was based on the government’s commitment to always protect the wellbeing of the people and to ensure funds are placed in where they are needed most.
According to reports the subsidy will be targeted at the top 15% of income earners, also known as the T15.
The question is what does he really mean by the commitment to protect the wellbeing of the people, and what does he actually intend to do when he says that he has to ensure funds are placed where they are needed most?
The Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue (ACID) is in view that having targeted subsidies for B40 is critical since the community are paid meagre minimum wages, but it should be balanced where savings of funds from the elimination of subsidy should be utilised to create an excellent healthcare and education system that caters to all.
Currently there are critical shortcomings in healthcare and education that are not addressed adequately in Parliament and the government.
Healthcare
While there are various technical views on the methodology on how to identify the targeted groups in subsidy rationalisation process, what is clearly missing in the current discourse is the importance of creating an ecosystem in healthcare that would ease the financial burden of ordinary Malaysians who are currently suffering from paying high medical insurance premiums.
What about those who have no insurance, and suffer critical illness, and have to wait long periods to be treated in the public hospitals?
When one walks to the Public Hospitals today one has to wait for hours to obtain treatment besides, having inexperienced doctors who are unable to understand the complexity of a particular illness or even suggesting alternative ways of treatment.
If one has to do a heart scan in a public hospital but is unable to do so due to high blood pressure during the preparation of the scan, he or she has to wait 2 years to obtain another appointment for a scan. This happened to my mother lately.
Would funds safe from subsidy rationalisation address issues of this nature?
Education
We are having an education system that creates debt for students at a very early age and denies adults who want to pursue educational excellence due to the high cost of education.
Is the elimination of subsidies able to ensure people are able pursue educational excellence without the burden of high cost?
Lately I enquired about a Master’s programme related to sustainable development in a private university and it cost RM43K even though the program is online.
Are our public universities able to offer relevant, quality and recognised programmes for free for those eager and qualified?
It is time the government focuses on creating an ecosystem where health care and education is equally accessible to all, and not just for those who afford it.
It is a pity the real issues of this nature are not debated in parliament due to having certain types of half -bake MPs and Cabinet ministers who have been intellectually indoctrinated by the corporate world.
It is time the removal of subsidies addresses the real issues of necessities, where funds safe from its removal could be channelled to improve our healthcare quality and efficiency, and create an education system that caters for all without the burdens of substantial debt.
Healthy and broadly educated citizens would contribute to a better economy and pave the way for Malaysia to become a developed nation in real sense.
Humanising and upgrading our social ecosystem is the way forward in ensuring funds safe from the elimination of subsidies reach where it is needed most. – Nov 18, 2024
Ronald Benjamin is a human resources practitioner based in Ipoh. He is currently secretary of the Association for Community and Dialogue.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: SPH
