He said the need for this change was one of his policy planks that he had outlined to voters at a meet-the-people session in Johor Bahru on Saturday night.

He posted a photograph showing him making a triangle shape, with the caption: “Don’t be alarmed. This is not a symbol of ‘nasi lemak’. This is actually a triangle that symbolizes an unbalanced society because of the wide gap between the rich and the poor.”

Liew said Malaysia’s economy had a triangular shape, with a handful of the rich at the narrow top and the broad bottom comprising the majority of low-income people.

“We need to change this triangle into a diamond shape, which is to build a society that prioritises the guarantee of economic protection of the people,” he said. “This means creating a strong and large middle-class society by reducing the number of the poor through efforts to improve their living standards.”

He said a large middle class could be built by increasing the income, skills, technology, and productivity of people in all walks of life.

Johor voters go to the polls on March 12 to elect 56 members of the state assembly in an election at which 18-20 year olds are eligible to vote for the first time.