KUALA LUMPUR: A prominent consumer group said 2027 Budget tax relief measures could ease the financial pressure on middle-income households amid rising living costs.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer Dr T. Saravanan said the increase in individual income tax relief from RM9,000 to RM12,000, alongside proposed tax rate reductions and wider deductions, would help M40 households manage their expenses.

He said the changes recognised the financial pressures faced by M40 families, whose commitments often included housing loans or rental payments, vehicle instalments, childcare, school expenses, healthcare, medical insurance premiums and the cost of caring for elderly parents.