It is heartwarming to learn that in conjunction with the Deepavali celebration on 20 October 2025, the Ministry of Education has announced that schools across the country will receive two additional holidays. Even non-Indian students will also enjoy this extra school holidays with their friends and families. (www.moe.gov.my)
Concurrently, under the Budget 2026 as presented by Prime Minister & Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) for Deepavali is active from 16th-22nd October, 2025. It includes nine essential goods such as imported bone-in mutton, tomatoes, red chilies, and various types of unions. The scheme aims to ensure price stability during Deepavali festive period benefitting all citizens. (www.pkdn.gov.my)
In this context, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living website has a list of the items and ceiling prices included in the SHMMP scheme. For all families travelling, the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) has activated smart lanes on highways and provided motorcycle shelters to help manage traffic during the holiday rush. MHA collates and coordinates traffic information for various toll operations at national & regional level. (www.kkr.gov.my)
For community initiatives, the government has approved initiatives worth RM42.25 million for the Indian community. These include the special free tuition program “Kalvi MADANI”, the provision of laptops & funding for Tamil schools maintenance & repairs. There is also a program called ‘Dharma MADANI' to empower houses of worship as community and cultural centers for Indian community with applications starting 17th October. (belanjawan.mof.gov.my)
In reaching out to wish Happy Deepavali to my mentor, CPA S. Suppiah, former Malaysia Airlines Executive Vice President Group Finance, I asked for his comment on those benefits extended by MADANI Government under Budget 2026 to the Indian community, he aptly said, “The goodies announced in the budget is certainly timely to enable the Indians to celebrate the Festival of Lights in a more affordable manner. The festival will also enable them to have a better get together and celebrate with their colleagues, neighbors and friends regardless of ethnics, especially in our multicultural societies in Malaysia.”
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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