Anwar cites RM16 billion aid allocation, says support will not bankrupt government
The prime minister said corruption and misuse of public wealth threatened the economy, rather than assistance for low-income Malaysians.
Malaysia has allocated RM16 billion for the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programmes in 2026, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on October 31, arguing that helping poorer households would not bankrupt the government.
Speaking in Kota Bharu at the launch of the Kelantan Entrepreneur Revival Scheme, Anwar said support for people on low incomes was a government responsibility. Such assistance should ensure that more people benefited from national development, he said.
He pointed to the two aid programmes, higher salaries for civil servants and an increase in the minimum wage as measures intended to improve people's well-being.
Anwar identified leaders' misconduct, corruption and financial leakages as the real economic threats. He said the economy could be harmed when public wealth was used for the benefit of particular groups, especially through corruption and greed within the administration.
He also said continued help for those in need must be accompanied by responsible management of public finances and good governance.
