.jpg)
Have you ever grown up complaining about Malaysia, our home country? Many Malaysians often grow up hearing complaints or even being someone who complains about the country, and it’s easy to fall into the belief that life elsewhere is always better. The idea that “the grass is greener on the other side” leads many to dream of migrating and starting fresh abroad. However, in chasing what seems better, few pause to reflect on what they already have. The ease of access to education, healthcare, subsidies, and daily conveniences are not universal experiences, they are privileges tied to being Malaysian. What feels normal today is, in reality, something many around the world struggle for. Often, these benefits are only truly appreciated after they are gone.
1. World-Class & Subsidized Healthcare
As Malaysians, we often take for granted how heavily subsidised our public healthcare system is, where the government bears around 98% of treatment costs in public facilities. You can walk into a government clinic or hospital for RM1 to RM5 and get top-tier treatment or medication. Healthcare funding accounts for about 9% to 11% of the federal budget, where RM46.5B has been allocated to the Health Ministry under Budget 2026. Beyond affordability, Malaysia’s healthcare system is well regarded globally and remains far cheaper than in many Western countries. You may not always appreciate it, but many people from neighbouring countries clearly do, intentionally travelling to Malaysia from places like Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand specifically to seek treatment here.
2. Powerful Visa-Free Passport
Many Malaysians don’t even realise it, but the passport all of us hold is actually one of the strongest in the world. Ranked highly on the Passport Index, it quietly opens doors to around 174 countries, with up to 129 destinations available visa-free. That means for many trips, there’s no need to deal with long visa applications or complicated approvals. If you cannot visualize how powerful it is, just keep in mind that it even ranks ahead of UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand passports in terms of travel access. What often feels ordinary in our hands is, in reality, a powerful level of global mobility.
3. Fuel Subsidies
Many Malaysians don’t realise that every time they pump RON95 petrol, they are paying just RM1.99 per litre under the targeted BUDI Madani subsidy program. It’s something so routine that it often goes unnoticed, yet it is a privilege not extended to foreigners in the country. In fact, Malaysia consistently ranks among the lowest petrol prices in ASEAN, sitting in second place. What feels like a normal part of daily life is actually a significant national benefit quietly shaping everyday expenses.
4. Public Holidays
We all love public holidays, but do we ever stop to think how privileged we are as Malaysians to actually enjoy them? On average, we get around 18–24 public holidays a year depending on state-specific holidays, and sometimes even more when the government announces special additional holidays. According to World Population Review, among SEA countries, Malaysia ranks #2, just behind Myanmar, and even sits at #5 globally for the number of public holidays. Our close neighbour Singapore is ranked #73 with only about 11 days a year. Do we really realise how lucky we are?
5. Cash Aids
Besides subsidies and general benefits, the Malaysian government also provides various cash assistance schemes. For example, all Malaysian adults aged 18 and above receive a one-off RM100 MySARA credit that can be used to purchase essential items. In addition, eligible individuals may also receive other forms of support such as STR cash aid, book vouchers, and assistance for persons with disabilities (OKU), among others. These benefits are generally not extended to non-Malaysians, making them unique advantages of being a citizen!
Apart from the benefits mentioned above, we also live in a truly multicultural country, where multiple languages are spoken and different races coexist and share their traditions. This gives us the privilege of growing up multilingual, while still preserving our own mother tongue, and enjoying a rich variety of famous local delicacies from different cultures. In many ways, this diversity is something truly special and unique to Malaysia. We should always be grateful and not take it for granted—“不要生在福中不知福,” where we should not live in blessings without realizing we are blessed. Share to show how proud you are to be a Malaysian!
Reference: The Star (2026 Budget for Healthcare), Passport Index, Bernama Facebook, World Population Review
Share hidden facts about Malaysia and stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RM4,300! Find out how to join here. T&Cs apply.
QueenSxndrx (sandragxn@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.
