Malaysia's subsidy overhaul steadied by public trust, says Finance Minister Amir Hamzah

Speaking at the Khazanah Megatrends Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Finance Minister Amir Hamzah attributed the smooth progress of Malaysia's subsidy rationalisation to public confidence in the government's fairness. He noted that clear messaging about why reforms are necessary has prevented street unrest despite the difficulty of the measures. Hamzah argued that subsidies should be directed to the most vulnerable and not given to those who do not merit them.

He linked the reform agenda to the need for stronger fiscal discipline, lower deficits and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which he said protects the country's financial health for future generations. The minister warned against depleting resources that future Malaysians will need, emphasizing a balance between growth and social support.