KUALA LUMPUR: The government is still studying the appropriate income threshold to define and categorise the T15 group, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said this was necessary considering the threshold set by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) at RM13,000 per household for the T15 was too low.
Anwar said the matter was being discussed by the relevant departments, including the Finance Ministry, Economy Ministry, and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
Replying to a question in Parliament from Datuk Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Puteh) on the confusing definition of T15, Anwar said it was not true.
"The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) currently sets the income threshold (for T15) at RM13,000, which we believe is somewhat low.
"We are considering raising it to RM15,000 or RM20,000, and this is being discussed. So there is no confusion or dispute at all, and this is something we refer to the Cabinet meetings," he said, adding all parties should be careful in expressing their views and to base them on facts.
The prime minister said the government will continue to protect the interests of 85 per cent of Malaysians amid the implementation of targeted subsidies for RON95 petrol, which is slated to take effect in mid-next year.
He said that was why only the T15 group and foreign nationals will have to pay the non-subsidised market price for the fuel, a measure he considers reasonable.
"The main point here is that the (targeted) subsidies should not burden the 85 per cent of the population, so we shouldn't act like champions for the T15 group as has been voiced by many parties, including the opposition.
"It is reasonable for us to impose market rates on the super-rich and top-tier individuals. Isn't that appropriate?" he said in reply to Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) during the Minister's Question Time.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, told critics not to be a champion for the ultra-wealthy.
He said while he could accept that the government should not burden those earning less than the T20 group, there were those who still earned hundreds of thousands or millions monthly.
"When we defend the T15 as a whole, this includes those who earn RM100,000 or RM1 million a month."
He said the RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation was necessary as the government spends RM20 billion on subsidies annually.
Anwar also addressed suggestions from certain parties to lower fuel prices, as he had previously proposed while in the opposition.
"Sometimes, they always say I compare (fuel prices) with Saudi Arabia, but there is no sincerity in their arguments, just political theatrics.
"The current price of oil in Saudi now is RM2.62, but when we (previously) proposed (to lower the fuel price), the oil there was only 50 sen. Why is this not being brought up?
"If we bring down the price drastically, projects for the people have to be reduced. That is why the choice we made is to raise the fuel price according to global rates for the T15, and foreigners," he said.