Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid said families who are struggling need help with more than just food. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher has called for a higher income benchmark when deciding who qualifies for welfare aid, saying struggling families need help with more than just food.

Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) said the social welfare department (JKM) had been using a monthly household income of RM1,236, or RM348 per family member, as a guide when assessing applications for financial aid since Jan 1.

Syerleena, of DAP, said RM1,236 was the poverty line for food alone, while the country's overall poverty line, which includes other basic needs, stood at RM2,705 in 2024.