Several analysts have warned that the government’s move to cut about RM10 billion in operating expenditure, including an estimated RM3 billion from the Health Ministry, risks creating short-term savings that could lead to higher costs in the future.

Pro-vice-chancellor and dean of the Graduate Studies Institute at Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia, Barjoyai Bardai, said the country’s main fiscal issue is not merely operational spending, but an imbalanced subsidy structure.