KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 24 -- The government may exclude higher income groups from receiving Budi Madani RON95 (Budi95) fuel subsidies in the next phases of reform, said an aide to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Political secretary to the prime minister and finance minister, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, said the change is part of a gradual plan to retarget fuel subsidies for greater fairness and efficiency, the New Straits Times reported.

He said the current phase focuses on ensuring that all Malaysian citizens with valid identity cards and driving licences can purchase RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre.

"The first step is to exclude non-citizens, and we will carefully monitor this phase before moving on to the next stage," he said during a press...