Kuala Lampur, Sept. 30 -- When Budget 2027 is tabled on Oct 9, I hope it will pay closer attention to a question many families in the Greater Klang Valley, especially Kuala Lumpur, face every month: how much is left after the bills are paid?

On paper, many households in this area may earn enough to be classifiesd as M40, or even fall at the lower end of T20. But in reality, rent, childcare, groceries and the cost of commuting to work can quickly eat into that income. In other words, despite earning more on paper, their disposable income after essential expenses may leave them under financial pressures similar to lower-income households in less expensive parts of the country.

I see this every day, especially in Bukit Bintang, where I am ...