Malaysia’s key household groups, B40, M40 and T20 have all recorded notable gains in median income over the past two years, reflecting a continued improvement in the country’s overall income landscape.

Deputy Economy Minister, Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib told the Dewan Rakyat today that the B40 segment registered a 5.2 per cent increase in median monthly income, rising to RM3,815 in 2024 from RM3,440 in 2022.

“For the M40 group, median income climbed from RM7,694 in 2022 to RM8,999 in 2024, marking a 5.6 per cent increase. The T20 category also charted growth of two per cent, from RM15,867 to RM16,517 during the same period,” she said during Question Time.

Hanifah said the upward trend was supported by four major income sources – wages and salaries, self-employment, returns from assets and investments, as well as current transfers.

The deputy minister was responding to a question from Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN–Besut) on how the government determines target groups for aid and subsidies.

Despite the improved median income figures, she said the government will continue to use the current B40, M40 and T20 classifications for the time being.

However, refinements are expected under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), including the consideration of a new classification mechanism based on disposable income.

Hanifah added that existing assistance programmes remain anchored to the Poverty Line Income (PGK), which accounts for both food and non-food essentials such as healthcare and education.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE