Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has just announced a series of new measures to respond to the growing wave of unrest among the population in the face of escalating living costs.
Notably, the decision to pay a one-time cash support amount of 100 ringgit (about 620,000 VND) to all people aged 18 and over, starting from August 31. The Malaysian government plans to allocate a total of 2 billion ringgit ($473 million) to the program, benefiting 22 million people.
The total cost of cash aid in 2025 is expected to reach 15 billion ringgit (equivalent to 3.55 billion USD), up from the previously set figure of 13 billion ringgit (more than 3 billion USD). The move comes amid a price protest scheduled to take place in the capital Kuala Lumpur on July 26.
Speaking in the announcement, Mr. Anwar admitted: "I understand that living expenses are still a big challenge, despite the measures we have announced earlier." He also said that further initiatives to support the poor will be announced on July 24.
In addition to direct cash, the Malaysian government is also planning to adjust RON95 gasoline prices down to 1.99 ringgit/liter (0.47 USD), compared to the current price of 2.05 ringgit (0.48 USD), expected to be announced before the end of September.
The Malaysian Prime Minister also announced additional spending for programs to improve access to essential goods and necessities at affordable prices. The Government is committed to improving existing support measures to ensure support for the right beneficiaries.
Previously, Mr. Anwar's government implemented a number of measures to increase budget revenue and productivity such as increasing the minimum wage, adjusting electricity prices for high-consumption users, and applying new sales taxes on imported fruits and luxury goods. Mr. Anwar emphasized that these measures are mainly aimed at large enterprises and the rich.
However, many opposing opinions say that these increased costs will eventually be shifted to consumers, affecting middle- and low-income people - who are the most vulnerable group in the context of current price escalation.
In June, the consumer price index in Malaysia increased by 1.1% over the same period last year. The food and beverage group alone increased by 2.1%, increasing pressure on households in daily life.
