COMMENT | At a time when global tensions are once again testing the fragility of economic stability - particularly through evolving geopolitical fault lines involving the United States, Israel, and Iran - Malaysia stands at a decisive policy juncture.

The question is no longer whether external shocks will reach our shores, but how effectively we respond when they do.

The central argument is straightforward: targeted subsidies under the Madani government are not merely a fiscal recalibration, but a strategic imperative to safeguard national resilience, preserve social cohesion, and sustain long-term economic credibility in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

The leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has signalled a deliberate shift away from broad-based subsidies toward a more targeted, data-driven framework anchored in national identity systems.

This transition...