Today's top Malaysian news, sport and lifestyle.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended his administration's fuel pricing strategy, arguing that petrol costs in Malaysia remain lower than in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, countering opposition claims of broken campaign promises.
Japan will temporarily slash its sales tax on food to just 1% from April 2025 for two years, marking the first reduction since the tax was introduced in 1989. The measure aims to relieve cost-of-living pressures amid persistent inflation.
Malaysia's Senate has approved the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026, granting the Malaysia Competition Commission enhanced powers to combat cartels, monopolies, and anti-competitive practices in the digital economy.
The Jualan MADANI KUSKOP programme is being rolled out across more remote districts in Sabah to increase access to discounted essential goods and support cooperative-driven economic development in underserved communities.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to maintaining RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre, revealing the government absorbs escalating international oil prices through annual fuel subsidies exceeding RM50 billion.
As Negeri Sembilan heads toward its state election on August 1, survey data reveals voters are demanding pragmatic leadership focused on cost of living, employment, and equitable development rather than political connections alone.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to increase the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) assistance programme in the coming months to address public concerns over escalating living expenses.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to reduce taxes levied on electricity bills, fulfilling campaign commitments to tackle the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze that has impacted millions of households across the nation.
Andy Burnham assumes office as UK Prime Minister, removing cabinet members loyal to his predecessor while pledging a decade-long strategy to tackle cost-of-living challenges and steering policy towards the left.
Incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has scrapped a £1.8 billion digital ID scheme intended to combat illegal migration, pivoting resources toward addressing the nation's prolonged cost-of-living emergency instead.
Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, formally becomes UK Prime Minister on Monday, promising to restore confidence in government and deliver political stability after a decade of frequent leadership changes.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pushed back against opposition claims that his administration has broken economic promises, citing Malaysia's relatively competitive petrol pricing as evidence of effective governance.
Andy Burnham, the Manchester-based politician nicknamed 'King of the North', has assumed the role of UK Prime Minister, succeeding a turbulent decade of leadership changes. He vows to fundamentally restructure British governance to address cost-of-living pressures and underperforming public services.
Malaysia's Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will expand its Rahmah MADANI Sales Programme to help residents manage surging prices for essential goods, with potential for increased frequency based on local demand.
Incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to abandon the national digital ID scheme, redirecting the associated funding and resources toward cost-of-living relief and decentralisation initiatives instead.
Small companies and local contractors nationwide will receive 300 litres of subsidised diesel monthly through fleet cards under Malaysia's new targeted subsidy programme launched July 1 in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has acknowledged that while Malaysia's second quarter GDP growth exceeded forecasts, many ordinary citizens and micro, small and medium enterprises continue to face financial hardship, signalling the uneven nature of the nation's economic recovery.
The government has allocated RM238.64 million to the MADANI Rahmah Sales Programme since January, facilitating over 21 million transactions nationwide. More than 17,000 sales events have been held, with authorities aiming to expand to 30,000 by year-end.
Malaysia's Essential Goods Distribution Programme has successfully narrowed price gaps between urban and rural areas, with RM250 million allocated this year benefiting 1.03 million residents across six states.
The SARA cashless assistance programme has achieved a 99% utilisation rate among nearly nine million monthly recipients, with spending reaching RM3.45 billion. The broader SARA Untuk Semua initiative has engaged 22 million people in local transactions totalling RM1.77 billion.
Malaysia's government is leveraging the PAKW basic living expenditure framework to design targeted interventions addressing cost-of-living disparities between urban and rural areas, with data showing significant spending variations across states.
Pakatan Harapan's Johor election manifesto prioritises practical, implementable solutions to the cost-of-living crisis through coordinated federal-state efforts, featuring a public monitoring mechanism.
The Dewan Rakyat's second week saw Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defend federal allocations to states, while lawmakers passed landmark legislation addressing child sexual abuse, cybercrime and deepfakes.
Residents in Johor's Bukit Batu constituency are demanding their next elected representative tackle surging living expenses, create quality jobs, and fix deteriorating infrastructure before polling day on July 11.
Malaysia's parliament has prioritized discussions on reforming SUHAKAM's financial independence and addressing the widening disconnect between official inflation rates and actual living costs faced by households.
Malaysia has launched an expanded BUDI Diesel subsidy scheme benefiting 700,000 private vehicle owners nationwide at RM2.10 per litre, representing a significant expansion from the previous scheme that aided 180,000 recipients.
Malaysia's Rahmah MADANI Sales Programme achieved 15,881 events nationwide between January and June 2025, covering all 600 state constituencies and 40 Federal Territory zones. The government aims to expand to 30,000 annual events.
Malaysia's government is executing 120 decisions through its National Economic Action Council to address the global supply crisis, with 27 fully implemented and 93 in progress, focusing on protecting MSMEs and essential goods supply.