SHAH ALAM, Nov 12 — The Selangor government will introduce a new standard of living classification system, with focus on urban poverty instead of sorting residents by their income, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said the fresh approach aims to more comprehensively evaluate residents’ standard of living, especially in terms of identifying people struggling with living cost pressures in cities.
He added that the new system will be tabled by June to guide policymaking and more targeted aid initiatives.
“We have to adapt (the system) according to locality to evaluate (recipients’ eligibility for aid),” he explained during a special interview with Media Selangor on November 5, ahead of the 2027 Selangor Budget tabling tomorrow.
Amirudin said the state government has never sidelined the M40 in its policies and aid initiatives, adding that the group is usually targeted under more comprehensive approaches such as more education funding, Ehsan Rahmah Sales, the Rumah Selangorku affordable housing scheme, and Skim Air Darul Ehsan (SADE).
These initiatives allow the M40 to enjoy various benefits from the state government despite them not being in the form of cash aid, he explained.
“If the M40 want the same treatment as the B40, this could be difficult because the value of RM100 or RM200 could be less meaningful for them. If they think (that amount) is meaningful, we have to review the poverty line.
“We do want to help everyone but it is better that we focus on vulnerable groups like young children, senior citizens, differently abled people, and those who need additional support,” Amirudin said.
He also said the state government will reevaluate Bantuan Kehidupan Sejahtera Selangor (BINGKAS) to ensure it meets current demands, but added that the priority is to launch a new aid scheme that is suited to the people’s changing needs and challenges.
“I think, after a few years, BINGKAS needs a detailed analytical study about whether (it) has successfully brought recipients out of the poverty line.
“I think we also need to add a new (aid) scheme… The new scheme must focus on those plunged into a terrifying ecosystem or poverty ecosystem that has resulted in them being left behind,” Amirudin added.
Under the 2026 Selangor Budget, the state government expanded living cost aid initiatives with BINGKAS Tambahan and BINGKAS Plus, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
