Business · Malaysia Bureau
Lawmaker urges exemption of wealthy from BUDI95 assistance scheme
A Malaysian parliamentarian has proposed excluding high-income earners and elected representatives from the BUDI95 cost-of-living assistance programme. The suggestion aims to redirect funds toward vulnerable middle-income households.
LSN Malaysia ·
Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh, the Besut MP from Perikatan Nasional, has recommended that affluent Malaysians be barred from accessing benefits under the BUDI95 scheme, a government initiative designed to provide financial relief to citizens.
The lawmaker argued that the funds would be better utilised to strengthen assistance directed at vulnerable segments of the M40 group—households earning between RM4,001 and RM8,200 monthly—who face increasing cost-of-living pressures.
Under his proposal, individuals holding political office, including members of parliament, would be explicitly excluded from the programme's beneficiary list. Jusoh's suggestion reflects growing scrutiny over the targeting and allocation of government assistance schemes amid concerns about equitable distribution of public resources.
The recommendation comes as Malaysia continues to refine its social welfare programmes to address affordability challenges faced by lower and middle-income households. Authorities have yet to respond formally to the proposal.