KUALA LUMPUR — Government backbencher Hassan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) has called for closer study on the super rich, saying the T15 income group should not be “persecuted” with subsidy rationalisation.
“The 15% who are considered high income should be refined. It is the T1, T2 and T3 who are the super rich.
“The T15 are not really rich. The husband earns RM6,000, the wife RM5,000, their unmarried children RM4,000…when added up, they earn RM15,000,” he said when debating Budget 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
However, he added, this group of people depended on various subsidies, whether for RON95, health or education such as to study at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar.
“There are even MPs whose children get the subsidy to study at the Malay College.
“So, we have to be smart about this. I ask the Finance Ministry to state in Parliament, how many billionaires are in Malaysia, and who are they?
“What sectors are their businesses in, how many percent of the economy do they control and are they paying taxes? How many jobs did they generate from their wealth? State it in Parliament.
“But don’t persecute the T15,” Hassan said.
T15 was mentioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling the budget last Friday.
However, without any information in his budget speech to define the income threshold for this category, debate has been rife on social media and among lawmakers as to how T15 incomes should be calculated.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, in his budget speech said 85% of the population will still enjoy RON95 subsidies while the remainder of 15% who are considered high income, will pay more when the government implements targeted subsidies for the fuel mid-next year.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli have said the government is still in the process of defining income thresholds for T15.
Hassan today also expressed caution about the RON95 subsidy rationalisation and
making the T15 pay unsubsidised prices.
He also questioned the approach of making the ultra rich pay more for the fuel saying the wealthy were not even using petrol anymore as they were driving electric vehicles. – October 24, 2024