Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hinted that the government may consider discontinuing the practice of providing support for wealthy students to get into top public schools funded by the government.
In a live press conference shared on his Facebook page, the Prime Minister mentioned that they’re looking to shake up anti-poverty programs, aiming for stricter rules on how funds are used.
They want to put an end to helping the rich
Anwar also pointed out that there have been ongoing issues with socioeconomic funding that often end up “subsidising the elites.” This idea comes as Anwar’s administration works on fixing leaks and making big internal changes.
In its efforts to reduce poverty, his government is slowly cutting back on general aid programs and shifting its focus to more targetted help. This is part of a bigger plan to get rid of waste that Anwar said mostly helps the rich.
“Why are there so many kids from rich families in science schools or Malay institutions that are meant for those in need? It’s the families of high-ranking civil servants, politicians, and wealthy business people who are gaining the most. Their kids are getting into the best government-funded schools, and that just doesn’t seem fair,” he said.
He explained that if a rich kid gets into an engineering program (an example), it shouldn’t matter if they’re Malay, Chinese, or Kadazan. The important thing is that if they have money, they should pay more.
“We need to focus on helping those who really need it”
Top public universities and schools like Mara Junior Science College were created to help talented kids from middle and lower-income families. Sadly, they’ve become a hotspot for kids from rich families, often because their parents have connections.
Critics say this unfair system keeps kids from less fortunate backgrounds from moving up in society compared to wealthier kids, leading to calls for change.
“These loopholes that let wealthy students attend top science schools funded by the government need to stop. This is a heads-up before I announce the federal budget next month. To make our country fair, we need to focus on helping those who really need it, especially vulnerable groups.”
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