even if you eat meat, it's not expensive.
Especially when potatoes cost less than RM3 per kilo
Onions less than RM4 per kilo
Beef less than RM20 per kilo.

Funny thing is, if you're cooking, it might be cheaper in the big city than in the kampung

those prices are rough prices.
some places maybe 1-2 ringgit per kil more expensive, but I'd say you don't have to become vegan
Eggs are like RM8 for 30........so PM was right, RM1200 BR1M can last a year 
Go have a walk around Giant la, most of the time, restaurant food (non-kopitiam) are expensive because of "service". The raw materials themselves are pretty cheap, even canned pork luncheon is less than RM10 per can and it's good enough to feed 2 person on its own.
At Rm20 per kilo for beef, you could for RM50 have steak for 10 dinners (including all those weird gravies,side dish,washing detergent)

Rice is also very very very farking cheap at only RM20 for 10kilos........note that a normal human would only eat 50g of rice (precooked la) per meal, unless you are rice bowl

Come and join the dark side!! I've been vegetarian for a month and so far I don't think I have lost any muscle mass... Some of my daily, affordable vegetarian sources of protein include brown rice, wholemeal breads, peanut butter, tempeh, tofu, red beans, etc. I'm not vegan and I do consume some animal products though. I'm taking ON whey protein and 5 boiled eggs a day for some added protein.

The only downside is they tend to taste bland but I haven't controlled my diet for the past 20+ years so it's time for me to eat like an adult.