Muhyiddin (PN-Pagoh) said the process of applying for social aid annually or going through bureaucratic hurdles only delays delivery to those in need.

“The aid recipient database should be integrated with agencies such as the Inland Revenue Board, the Employees Provident Fund, the national registration department, the social welfare department, and eKasih,” he said when debating the Supply Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“This system should automatically identify B40 and M40 households, with eligibility assessments conducted internally every year.

“Updates should only be required when significant changes occur. This saves time, prevents exclusion and, most importantly, safeguards public welfare.”

Putrajaya allocated RM15 billion in cash handouts for the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives under the 2026 budget – RM2 billion more than the RM13 billion allocated under the 2025 budget.

All nine million STR recipients will receive up to RM100 per month, while one million participants under the eKasih programme for the poor and hardcore poor will receive up to RM200 per month.

Separately, Muhyiddin noted that Malaysia’s national debt has exceeded RM1.4 trillion, with debt servicing accounting for 14% of the government’s total operating expenditure.

He cautioned that borrowing to pay off interest on old debts reflected “undisciplined management” and was “a recipe for economic disaster”.

“Therefore, I urge the government to present a plan that clearly outlines measures to gradually reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio, while ensuring that new borrowings are directed towards productive spending,” he said.