KUALA LUMPUR: The government should exclude high-income groups from the Sara and Budi95 assistance programmes, Besut member of parliament (MP) Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh said.
He said the move would ensure government allocations reached those most in need.
"Do all recipients really need the assistance? I propose that the funds be channelled directly to food banks, school assistance programmes or support funds for the vulnerable M40 group.
"Sara assistance is given to everyone aged 18 and above, including all members of parliament, who also receive it," he said during the 2027 Budget debate in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Temerloh MP Salamiah Mohd Nor supported the proposal, saying Sara assistance should be abolished for high-income groups.
"I agree with what the Besut MP said earlier about Sara. I propose that Sara be abolished for high-income groups and that the funds mentioned earlier be redistributed to those who genuinely deserve the assistance," she said.
Che Mohamad also called for a review of Budi95, saying fewer than one per cent of users fully utilised their monthly quota of 300 litres.
"The government increased the Budi95 eligibility limit to 300 litres. Records show that only about 100,000 users, or less than one per cent, fully utilise the allocation.
"So, we need to review it," he said.
He also proposed that the government stop treating the M40 as a uniform income group and assess household financial burdens more accurately.
"The M40 are not all well-off. We need a fairer and more nuanced measure that better reflects the actual circumstances of families.
"I propose that the government develop a Household Net Income Index to complement existing income-based assessments," he said.
He said the index should account for dependants, childcare, responsibility for elderly parents and grandparents, education and medical expenses, health insurance, housing costs, location, commuting distances, disability and chronic illnesses.
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