SHAH ALAM – With the Budget 2026 to be tabled in Oct 10, youths have voiced their hopes for policies that not only ease immediate pressures but also pave the way for a fairer and more inclusive future.
Many young Malaysians found life had become a balancing act between rising expenses, uncertain job prospects, and limited access to mental health support.
Daily Survival vs Future Security
For university student Nurul Izzah, 20, her priorities for Budget 2026 were clear.
“Affordable cost of living (food, housing, transport), better job opportunities and fair wages for youth and stronger support for education and skills training,” she said.
Her words reflected the double burden faced by many in her age group: keeping up with daily costs while preparing for long-term opportunities.
She emphasised that subsidies for essentials, affordable housing schemes and tax relief on necessities such as internet and healthcare could offer meaningful relief.
Her call for low-interest business loans, grants and incubator programmes also showed a hunger among youths to innovate without shouldering excessive risks.
She also highlighted the issue of mental health, noting it is often overlooked.
“The budget should increase funding for free or affordable counseling in schools, universities, and clinics and expand healthcare access in both urban and rural areas,” she said.
Student Struggles Beyond the Classroom
Meanwhile, for another university student, Faza Nazahah, 23, affordability extended into everyday student life.
“As a student from Sultan Idris Education University, my top three priorities for Budget 2026 would be affordable education and living allowances,” she said.
Her suggestions, which included providing student food vouchers, wider transport discounts, rental assistance and affordable housing near campuses, painted a vivid picture of how financial strain disrupted not just studies but the overall student experience.
She also emphasised a gap in awareness about entrepreneurship programs, highlighting the need for simpler, more accessible guidance in smaller towns and universities.
“Mental health is very important. Many students face stress from academic pressure, financial worries, and personal issues but do not have proper access to help,” she stressed.
For her, counselling services, tele-counselling and affordable healthcare subsidies were essential to keep young people from falling through the cracks.
The Workforce Perspective
Nur Qistina, 25, a private sector professional, highlighted the challenges faced by young professionals trying to establish stability.
“My top three priorities would be reducing the rising cost of living, ensuring affordable housing for young people, and improving wages so they are more aligned with current expenses,” she said.
Her view captured a reality where salaries often lagged behind inflation, leaving little room for savings or investment.
“The government should provide more targeted subsidies for essentials like food and public transport, as well as give tax reliefs or rebates for rent and education loan repayments,” she added.
She shared the same frustration felt by students regarding entrepreneurship, noting that while there were plenty of ideas, there was not enough money or support to make them happen.
Qistina also added that her generation faced immense pressure both at work and in their personal lives, making mental health a serious concern.
“Mental health is very important for my generation because of the pressures we face at work and in our personal lives,” she said.
Shared Hopes and Common Challenges
From improving internet access in rural areas to scholarships for B40 students and targeted transport assistance, their responses showed a desire for a budget that bridged divides rather than widened them.
What tied their perspectives together was a longing for fairness: affordable essentials, fairer wages, equal opportunities and the recognition that mental health deserves just as much attention as education or employment.
If Budget 2026 reflected these concerns, it could signal not just relief for the present but also a stronger foundation for the future of Malaysia’s youth.