Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced a set of immediate measures aimed at easing financial pressures faced by Malaysians. The initiatives, introduced under the government’s ongoing MADANI economic agenda, are designed to provide direct support to households while addressing key areas such as fuel, food prices, wages, and public transport costs.

The five measures include both one-off assistance and structural support, with nationwide rollout planned in phases. Here’s what you need to know.

RM100 SARA Credit for All Adults from 31 August 2025

Starting 31 August 2025, every Malaysian citizen aged 18 and above will receive a one-off RM100 credit under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme.

The credit will be linked to the recipient’s MyKad and can be used to purchase essential items at more than 4,100 participating outlets, including Mydin, Lotus’s, Econsave, 99 Speedmart, and other registered retailers. It will remain valid until 31 December 2025.

Unlike household-based assistance, this initiative is provided on an individual basis. For example, a household with four eligible adults will receive a combined total of RM400.

The programme is expected to benefit approximately 22 million Malaysians, with a total government allocation of RM2 billion. Any unused balance at the end of the year may be redirected to support vulnerable groups in 2026.

SARA was introduced as targeted assistance for lower-income groups, with selected recipients receiving monthly credit through MyKad to spend on essentials. This is the first time the programme is being extended to all adult citizens, regardless of income bracket, on a one-off basis.

Public Holiday on 15 September 2025

In conjunction with Malaysia Day celebrations, Monday, 15 September 2025, has been declared a one-off additional public holiday.

The decision is intended to foster unity and provide Malaysians with an opportunity to reconnect with family or travel domestically during the extended weekend. This applies nationwide and does not represent a permanent change to the public holiday calendar.

Jualan Rahmah MADANI Programme Expanded to RM600 Million

The Jualan Rahmah MADANI initiative will receive an increased allocation of RM600 million for 2025, doubling the original budget of RM300 million.

This expansion will allow for more frequent events and a wider variety of essential goods to be offered at reduced prices. The programme will now cover all 600 state constituencies and is designed to offer direct savings to households, particularly those affected by rising food costs.

Launched in 2023 as Jualan Rahmah, the initiative started with basic discounted items offered at pop-up locations. It was later scaled up under the MADANI framework and given a formal budget. In 2024, the programme operated with RM300 million in funding, with limited frequency and geographic coverage.

Toll Rate Increases Postponed for 10 Highways

Planned toll hikes for 10 highways in 2025 have been postponed, with the government maintaining current rates to help ease transport costs for commuters. The government will absorb the resulting compensation to highway operators, estimated at over RM500 million.

Highways affected by this decision include the Senai–Desaru Expressway (SDE), East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), Butterworth Outer Ring Road (LLB), and the KL–Putrajaya Expressway (MEX), among others.

Targeted RON95 Subsidy: Petrol to Cost RM1.99 Per Litre for Malaysians

The government will proceed with the implementation of targeted RON95 fuel subsidies, with full details to be announced by end-September 2025.

Under the new mechanism, Malaysian citizens will pay a reduced, subsidised price of RM1.99 per litre, while foreign nationals will pay market rates. This is part of a broader strategy to reduce subsidy leakage and ensure that public funds benefit citizens directly.

According to Anwar, the move follows the recently restructured electricity tariff, which resulted in lower bills for 85% of domestic users as of July 2025. This announcement comes after a postponement in the original rollout timeline for RON95 subsidy rationalisation. The implementation had been expected earlier this year, but was delayed as the government refined the delivery mechanism. According to Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil, the delay was made to ensure the policy would not impose undue financial pressure on the public.

• TAGS:
• Anwar Ibrahim
• Jualan Rahmah
• Living Costs
• Public Holiday
• RON95
• SARA Credit
• Tolls