Malaysia Restores Fuel Quotas, Unveils Aid in Cost-of-Living Push
Malaysia's PM announced measures to ease living costs, including restored fuel quotas and new funding for schools and small businesses.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced a new package of measures aimed at easing the financial burden on citizens and supporting local enterprises. The initiatives, which are set to take effect on September 1, were detailed in a televised address on Sunday.
A key component of the plan is the restoration of higher purchase quotas for subsidised fuel. The monthly quota for RON95 petrol will be raised back to 300 litres per citizen, reversing a cut to 200 litres made earlier this year. Quotas for diesel purchases by certain user categories will also be increased to 400 litres per month.
In addition to fuel relief, the government will expand its artificial intelligence training program to Malaysians aged 18 to 30, providing free access to platforms such as Google's Gemini Enterprise and Alibaba Cloud's Wonderclip and MuleRun. The package also includes increased funding for school maintenance, digital health systems, and micro-financing for small businesses.
Further, the revenue threshold for companies to be exempt from mandatory e-invoicing will be raised to 3 million ringgit annually. Anwar also stated that funds seized through anti-corruption proceedings would be redirected to government programs, particularly in education and healthcare.
The announcement comes as Anwar's administration faces public pressure over living costs, despite the economy growing 6% in the second quarter, outperforming many regional peers. The coalition has also suffered defeats in three recent regional elections, which are seen as a barometer of public sentiment ahead of a general election due by early 2028.