The 2014 Budget and its major highlights were not considered to be helping in stemming the cost of living for Malaysians, while the oil, sugar, and electricity price increases are currently the major concerns for people across the board, a new survey has revealed.

NONE The survey by Universiti Malaya’s Centre for Democracy and Elections (Umcedel) revealed that 55 percent of the respondents in their survey did not believe that the Budget helped with living costs.

They also reacted negatively to Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M)'s ability to help with rising costs, sugar subsidy abolition, and also the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The oil price increase is the biggest concern among 42 percent of respondents, followed by general price increases at 34 percent, and electricity tariff hike at 24 percent.

NONE Fifty-two percent of respondents in the survey on 1,676 people said that BR1M is no longer helping, compared to 42 percent who believe that the programme helps.

Umcedel director Dr Redzuan Othman said the reasons are mostly attributed to the amount of the aid not being adequate despite the announcement to raise it recently, and that its frequency was not enough.

An overwhelming 61 percent of respondents were of the opinion that the sugar subsidy abolition by the government in the 2014 Budget was not a fair move.

When it came to disagreement with the sugar subsidy abolition, Malays seem to be the most displeased with the decision, with 62 percent of them against the move.

A large majority of respondents also disagreed with the government’s announcement to introduce GST beginning 2015, with 61 percent against the move.

“However, many of them admitted not knowing how GST works or what is it about,” Redzuan said.

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