KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 16): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said ensuring there is equitable distribution of wealth among the people of the country is one of the core elements that the new Government is working on to achieve.

This comes as the State of Households report by Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) released yesterday reported that the wealth gap in Malaysia is widening although the income growth among the middle income (M40) group  and low income (B40) group is faster than the rich.

“We have always said that this rich and poor gap is widening,” Wan Azizah told reporters at the Parliament building today. “This is definitely a problem (in this country). The equitable distribution of wealth is one of the foundations of the Pakatan Harapan Government.”

“This is a bad situation and it is not stable for the country. When you talk about the economy, you have to talk about equitable distribution of wealth,” she added.

Earlier today, Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Senator Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin told the Dewan Rakyat that part of its efforts to achieve equitable distribution of wealth includes a more transparent and accountable implementation of the New Economic Policy, with Bumiputera socioeconomic development remaining a key agenda "without abandoning other races in the country".

In July, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan, due for tabling on Thursday, will seek to address the disparity of growth across the states and income inequalities, particularly for the B40 income group, high youth unemployment rate and rising costs of living, among others.