2027 budget to include initiatives to reduce M40’s burdens
PUTRAJAYA: The government’s annual budget for next year will include initiatives aimed at reducing the burdens of those in the middle income or M40 group, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“We have a list of items that we have prioritised to reduce the burdens of the M40,” he told reporters after an engagement for the 2027 federal budget at the finance ministry’s headquarters here.
The government maintained targeted electricity and fuel subsidies in the 2026 budget, which the Treasury said benefits the middle class who typically use more electricity and fuel than those in the lower-income group.
Other measures targeted at the M40 in this year’s budget included the extension of childcare benefits from six to 12 years, RM1,000 in domestic-tourism relief and widened stamp duty exemptions for homebuyers.
TH probe goes beyond RCI scope
On a separate matter, Anwar said the investigations involving Tabung Haji (TH) went beyond the scope of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) report, which only covered 2014 to 2020.
“There’s no obstruction to looking into (TH’s management) before and beyond (2014-2020). And this is what is being done by enforcement agencies and investigators,” he said.
While debating the TH RCI report in the Dewan Rakyat last week, Umno’s Tampin MP Isam Isa proposed an investigation covering the period from 2021 to 2025, as the previous RCI only covered 2014 to 2020.
Kinabatangan MP Kurniawan Naim Moktar of Umno agreed, saying the audit of TH should not “stop halfway” and that a fresh RCI should look into the pilgrim fund’s non-performing assets. - FMT 18 August 2026
