Govt to focus on improving rakyat’s wellbeing

PETALING JAYA: The government will intensify inclusive development to improve the rakyat’s wellbeing in line with the country’s economic growth.

Among the efforts in the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan that will be stepped up in­­­clu­­­ded raising the income and purchasing power of the B40 households, enhancing the bumiputra economic community (BEC) as well as empowering the minorities and specific target groups.

The others are improving the rakyat’s quality of life through mea­sures to help increase their buying power and access to quality and affordable housing and healthcare.

Socio-Economic Research Centre executive director Lee Heng Guie welcomed the move to create a framework for an integrated and comprehensive social protection system for the B40 households.

He said guidelines and mechanism to manage subsidies and welfare aid policies should be available to ensure they are properly implemented.

“There must be a good tracking system to enable the government to closely monitor the effectiveness of the policies,” he said.

Political analyst Koh Kok Wee said the government should not ignore the predicaments faced by the middle income group that were often neglected.

“The low and medium income earners in Malaysia are still facing the problem of the rising cost of living and stagnant wages.

“The previous tax-free window was rather short and prices of goods have not dropped significantly after the implementation of SST,” he said.