PETALING JAYA: The government should delay the implementation of several policy changes to avoid further burdening Malaysians already struggling with rising living costs, says Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said while some of these policies are targeted at the top 15% (T15) income group, its impact would inevitably ripple through the broader population.

"The ripple effect is unavoidable – when costs rise for manufacturers, it inevitably trickles down to ordinary consumers, driving up the prices of everyday goods and straining household budgets," he said.

Dr Wee, who is also Ayer Hitam MP, also questioned the lack of transparency on the plan to rationalise the RON95 petrol subsidy, which could happen as early as June.

"Details of its implementation should have been finalised by now and the public should have been given mind-conditioning – but so far, it remains vague.

"What is the actual price of RON95 without subsidies? Will the system use MyKad, e-wallets, or driving licences? Who qualifies and based on what criteria?" he said in a video posted on Facebook on Thursday (May 8).

He also raised concerns about the planned 14.2% electricity tariff hike from July 1, despite government assurances that 85% of consumers would not be affected.

"If factories are hit with higher electricity bills, who will bear the additional cost? It is clear these will eventually be passed on to consumers," he said.

Dr Wee added that the planned expansion of Sales and Services Tax (SST) and removal of egg subsidies from Aug 1 would further strain household budgets, with egg prices expected to rise by about 3 sen each.

He said the people have the right to know how these policies will be implemented and called on the government to provide a clear explanation.

He also warned against the risk of implementing multiple policies simultaneously, saying this could leave Malaysians feeling like they are being hit from all sides.

"This is not about politics, it's about the people," he said, urging policymakers to delay these measures until the economy is on a more stable footing.

-The STAR-