PAS MP wants M40 'support package' as cost-of-living thorns prick 'rosy' figures

 

With healthcare, childcare, education and housing costs taking an increasing toll on household incomes, a PAS lawmaker has urged the government to introduce a targeted “support package” for the middle-income group (M40) in Budget 2027.

Bachok MP Syahir Sulaiman said the M40 was facing mounting financial pressures and needed more targeted assistance when the budget is tabled in Parliament on Friday (Oct 9).

"Most importantly, Budget 2027 needs to recognise the role of the M40 by providing a more targeted 'support package' to ease the increasingly felt financial pressure.

"The costs of healthcare, childcare, and education, alongside housing commitments, are taking up an increasingly large share of household income.

"Many also belong to the 'sandwich generation' who support both their children and ageing parents," he said in a statement today.

According to the Statistics Department and financial guides, the general M40 gross monthly household income range spans roughly RM5,860 to RM12,679, although thresholds can vary depending on the latest surveys and regional differences in the cost of living.

Intensifying pressure on households

Syahir said pressure on households was expected to intensify as Malaysia transitions towards an ageing society, with working heads of households likely to shoulder greater caregiving responsibilities and financial commitments.

"Working heads of households will bear greater caregiving responsibilities and financial commitments.

"Ahead of Budget 2027, focus must be given to household income, job stability, and the pressure of the cost of living, particularly among M40 families who are the backbone of the country's economic growth," he added.

He said that while the national economy had grown beyond expectations, the ringgit had strengthened and the labour market appeared stable, these indicators must ultimately translate into improved living standards.

"The question is, many citizens do not feel the benefits of this growth, and even ignore the official government figures reported to be so rosy," he added.

Last month, Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan said the M40 had not been left out of government assistance, with support channelled through various forms, including targeted subsidies, healthcare and education services, and the creation of quality jobs.

He also said the government’s approach took into account the differing needs of each segment of society, adding that assistance should not be assessed solely through the lens of direct cash handouts.

“It is not true to say that the middle-income group does not receive assistance. The government understands that everyone has their own needs, so some forms of assistance are provided differently,” he told Astro Awani in an exclusive interview.

Amir (above) said among the forms of support available to the M40 were targeted fuel subsidies, which ensured that benefits continued to reach eligible Malaysians while reducing leakages to those who did not qualify.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, will table the Budget 2027.

According to the pre-Budget 2027 statement released by the Finance Ministry, the fifth Madani Budget will continue to be anchored on the three pillars of the Madani Economy: raising the ceiling of the country's growth, raising the floor of the people's well-being, and driving governance reform in national administration. - Mkini