Budget 2026 comes at a time when Malaysia’s economic recovery appears steady, but not yet even. Inflation has eased, but for many households, the pressure on daily living costs remains. As we head into the next Budget, it’s time to take stock. Have last year’s social protection measures like PekA, Skim Perubatan MADANI, Program Anak Kita, Sejati MADANI and Santuni MADANI, been enough to shield vulnerable Malaysians from economic uncertainty? Or is it time to rethink how we target and design support? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Calvin Cheng, Director of the Economics programme at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS Malaysia). He works on issues in applied economics, including jobs, social protection and economic development.
