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Key Highlights
Anwar and ‘maha kaya’
Cash or subsidies
Penang DAP rift
Anwar and ‘maha kaya’
Opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of villainising the ultra rich (maha kaya) in his Budget 2024 speech.
Anwar had among others said that the ultra rich had excessively benefited from the country’s fiscal policies, especially blanket subsidies.
The premier in response, said that he was not out to oppress the maha kaya, but merely taking away subsidies from them as they can afford to pay market prices.
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Cash or subsidies
Putrajaya is considering even more cash transfers as a substitute for subsidies.
Anwar said this would only be for certain subsidies, however, and that more details would be announced later.
One form of cash transfer that the government has implemented to alleviate the cost of living is the Rahmah Basic Necessities Aid (Sara) programme, where poor households get RM100 credited to their MyKad each month.
These funds can then be used to get groceries.
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Penang DAP rift
A rift is emerging in Penang DAP after state party chief Chow Kon Yeow publicly claimed that there had been efforts to topple him as chief minister.
He had urged his detractors to support him instead.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, however, denied there were plans to replace Chow as Penang chief minister.
Chow’s predecessor Lim Guan Eng, meanwhile, slammed the chief minister for making unfounded claims.
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Views that matter
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