Welfare of vulnerable groups continues to be given attention - PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the welfare of vulnerable groups in this country to continue to be given attention in line with the concept of MADANI economy.

Taking the example of the education sector, he said there are children of the rich who enjoy government-funded educational facilities compared to the poor.

"As far as I understand, the majority benefits the elite groups such as senior civil servants, political leaders, leading entrepreneurs who are sending their children to the best schools funded by the government and this is unreasonable, unfair.

"Should a child of the rich (who) be sent to the Faculty of Engineering, (whether) Malay, Chinese or Iban, he should pay, so that we can meet the demand, otherwise this subsidy will continue. This revenue will then be used to help the poor more," he said.

He said this when he opened the National Symposium: Eradicating Poverty in Putrajaya today, which was also attended by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

Therefore Anwar, who is also the Minister of Finance, said that all forms of leakages, including education subsidies to the children of the rich, should stop.

-- BERNAMA