THE Prime Minister has called on Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the country’s financial institutions to assist the government in better communicating fiscal policy and addressing misinformation, particularly surrounding complex and politically sensitive reforms.
Delivering his keynote at the SASANA Symposium 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Minister of Finance, said clear and accurate messaging was vital to prevent the manipulation of economic policies for political gain.
“For example, for the subsidy rationalisation, (the opposition will say) the country is extremely poor, they (government) are oppressing the people — that is the narrative that you find on social media. But the RON95 subsidy rationalisation programme has to be done,” he said.
“So it has to be explained, well articulated. Get the people to understand and appreciate. It is vital to ensure not only the programme is considered to be effective or sound policy, but that it is effectively implemented and understood by the majority of our people.”
Also present at the symposium were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, BNM Governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, and Secretary General of the Treasury Datuk Johan Mahmood @ Johan Mahmood Merican.
Acknowledging that certain measures — such as subsidy restructuring and tax reforms — may be unpopular, Anwar emphasised their importance for Malaysia’s long-term fiscal health and structural resilience.
He urged BNM and financial players not only to support these policy shifts but also to help the public grasp their rationale and long-term benefits.
Anwar also commended BNM’s organisation of the SASANA Symposium, describing it as a timely initiative bringing together intellectuals, government leaders, industry stakeholders and academics to chart the nation’s economic trajectory.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the RON95 petrol subsidy rationalisation plan, stressing that 85 to 90 per cent of the population would not be affected. - June 17, 2025
