PUTRAJAYA: The government has yet to decide on cutting education subsidies for children of wealthy families.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said several issues needed to be considered before making a decision.
Drawing a comparison with the restructuring of electricity subsidies, Fahmi said: "We emphasised that 85 per cent of users in Peninsular Malaysia will not be affected by any increase.
"We can take that as a principle. However, in certain matters like education, it is not based on the same model as electricity bills, which are consumption-based.
"For education, we will consider several other factors. But at this time, no decision has been made; it is still in the discussion stage," he said at his weekly press conference.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said the 2025 Budget would continue including help for the poor, but the rich should not enjoy heavily subsidised educational opportunities.
During his speech at the National Symposium to End Poverty 2024 here on Monday, Anwar, who is finance minister, said there must be a stop to 'leakages' of wealthy people abusing education opportunities that should go to students from underprivileged backgrounds.