Kuala Lampur, April 8 -- Malaysia's poverty rate is falling, but for many households, life is not getting easier. If you earn above the poverty line, you are not poor, and if you fall below it, you are. This definition is simple, clear, and widely accepted, yet it is increasingly misleading.

Today, poverty does not always present itself as empty pockets. Instead, it often appears in more subtle but equally pressing forms, such as having a full time job that still does not provide financial security, or living in a household that sits just above the poverty line yet remains constantly vulnerable to unexpected shocks. In this context, it becomes evident that while money can measure income, it cannot fully capture lived reality.

The limits...