Council urges govt to address widening income inequality

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay Consultative Council (MPM) has urged the government to urgently address the widening income inequalities in the country.

MPM economist Datuk Akbar Ali said there are large disparities in income between Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras, between urban and rural groups, and between the bottom 40 per cent household income group (B40) on the one hand and the middle 40 per cent (M40) and top 20 per cent (T20) income groups on the other.

"There is no denying that we have succeeded in reducing the absolute poverty rate from 49.3 per cent in 1970 to 0.4 per cent, or nearly zero, in 2016.

"However, studies show that the income gap between Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras, between urban and rural residents, and between the B40 and T20 and M40 income groups has been widening since 2009," he said.