A middle-aged Malaysian man earning a monthly salary of RM10,000 has opened up about the emotional and financial toll of supporting his family, revealing that despite appearing financially stable, he’s constantly struggling to make ends meet.
On paper it looks fine, but the numbers don’t add up
In a heartfelt anonymous post shared on Xuan, the man shared that he lives with his wife and two primary school-aged children.
While their life may look comfortable from the outside, he stressed that their monthly expenses barely leave any room for savings.
The rising cost of living, along with house and car loans, children’s tuition fees, and unexpected household expenses, has made it nearly impossible to manage my finances,”he wrote.
More income, but less peace of mind
He also shared that he has recently completed his 2024 income tax relief declaration and was struck by how much tax he paid over the past year.
While technically his income had increased, the improvement did not translate into a better quality of life.
The man described feeling like a machine — constantly working, fulfilling responsibilities, but with little time or energy left for himself.
Too rich for aid, too poor to relax
He pointed out the unique struggles faced by Malaysia’s middle class — caught in a grey zone where their income disqualifies them from financial aid, yet inflation erodes their earnings at a faster pace than any pay raise could catch up.
He also shared his frustration over seeing Malaysians living abroad qualify for local subsidies despite paying taxes there, leaving local taxpayers feeling overlooked.
Recently, I heard that my aunt’s child, who works in Singapore and earns in SGD while paying taxes to the Singaporean government, can still return to Malaysia and apply for various aid and subsidies. Honestly, I feel very conflicted about it.
“Those of us who stay here, paying taxes faithfully and following the rules, end up getting nothing. Is that really fair?”
“We’re not asking for much, just to be seen”
Clarifying that he isn’t trying to avoid taxes, the man said he respects his civic duties.
What hurts, he said, is that middle-class families like his are rarely acknowledged or supported by policies tailored for either the wealthy or low-income groups.
He confessed that he sometimes dreams of quitting his job to pursue a more fulfilling life, or moving somewhere less stressful — but those thoughts are quickly silenced by the weight of responsibility toward his family.
A silent plea for recognition
Ending his post, the man emphasized he wasn’t complaining but was simply exhausted.
He expressed hope that by sharing his story anonymously, someone out there would understand the quiet burdens carried by Malaysia’s middle-income earners.
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