THE government must change its definition of destitute and poor to match the changing economic situation, Penang Hindu Association (PHA) president P. Murugiah said.

Murugiah noted that the rise in living costs, worsened by a declining ringgit, has distorted Malaysia’s poverty outlook.

He said the tabulation of poverty must take into account the continued increases in living costs while essentials are no longer confined to basic food such as rice but now extend to healthcare and transport.

There is also the issue of the ever-increasing prices of housing, said Murugiah in an interview.

PHA is a group looking after the welfare of the poor.

The activist said government handouts such as subsidies are no longer adequate to check the rise of living costs.

“Although food price hikes are a global phenomenon, each country must take stock of its ill effects and find ways to counter the new found poverty effects,” he said.

“Families that are burdened with chronic ailments, disabilities, and old age should be classified as the new poor.

“They may not be destitute but they are suffering and burdened. They cannot afford to even dine out because of the exorbitant prices.”

He said in Penang, PHA has encountered families that earn RM3,000 a month but spend RM2,000 of that on care for their aged parents.

He said many middle-class (M40) households have slipped into the bottom-40 (B40) earners because of the high cost of healthcare.

A PHA survey showed M40 and B40 households mainly complained about rising rent and electricity tariffs.

Prices of groceries have risen by up to 90% while school bus fees have gone up 50%.

Infant milk formula costs 30% more and items such as fish, poultry, meat, fruits and seafood are up 50% compared to last year, he said.

Pharmaceutical prices have also gone up to 50%, he added.

Murugiah was commenting on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks that the state can eradicate hardcore poverty rates by June.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has said that there are only 100 families living in hardcore poverty in Penang.

Anwar has since directed the Implementation Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department to work with the Penang government to raise the socio-economic status of those households. – April 19, 2024.