KUALA LUMPUR: Branding everyone in the top 15% income group (T15) as "ultra rich" is unfair to some hardworking families, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The Ayer Hitam MP said they will lose out on petrol, health and education subsidies just because they have a household income of over RM13,000 a month.
"I am not defending the rich. Corporate figures or millionaires come under this group.
"But so will a husband and wife who are teachers under Grade DG48 because they will surely fall under this group. Is this fair?" he said when debating Budget 2025 in Parliament on Tuesday (Oct 22).
In 2022, the Statistics Department defined the T15 group as those with a household income of at least RM13,295.
Under Budget 2025, those under T15 are no longer eligible for health, education and fuel subsidies.
Dr Wee also questioned the inconsistency in the definition for "household income", which Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli had said would be based on net disposable income and locality.
He also said that introducing a two-tiered system for RON95 petrol subsidies would result in confusion among the public while increasing the operating costs of petrol stations.
Dr Wee suggested that there should only be one price for RON95 petrol.
"Instead, impose a petrol levy on the road tax for cars worth RM300,000 and above.
"If the car uses an average of 2,600 litres of petrol annually, a RM1 petrol levy could be imposed for each litre.
"If they can afford to purchase a RM300,000 car, they will be able to afford RM2,600," he said.
