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THE government is intensifying efforts to shield low-income households and small businesses from worsening global economic pressures, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim directing ministries nationwide to ensure aid and development initiatives are more precisely targeted towards those most affected by rising living costs.
The directive was issued following a National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting chaired by Anwar, where ministers and senior officials reviewed Malaysia’s preparedness against the growing impact of global supply chain instability and escalating prices of essential goods.
In a Facebook statement issued after the meeting, Anwar said the government’s intervention strategy was being recalibrated in response to mounting external pressures affecting daily living expenses.
“The directive was issued after taking into account the impact of the global supply crisis, which is increasingly putting pressure on the prices of daily goods,” Bernama reported him saying.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, said the council had examined several urgent policy proposals aimed at strengthening national economic resilience while protecting vulnerable communities from prolonged global uncertainty.
“MTEN will continue to place its main focus on efforts to ensure supply continuity and protect the people, particularly vulnerable groups and petty traders, so that they are not further burdened by global economic shocks,” Anwar added.
A major focus of the government’s latest intervention involves easing operational burdens faced by hawkers and small traders, many of whom continue struggling with rising rental and supply costs.
Anwar called on local authorities throughout the country to follow the example set by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), both of which have already introduced rental reductions for traders operating on government-managed premises.
“The MADANI Government has begun reducing rental rates for hawker and trader premises, through Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA).
“This compassionate approach should be emulated by other local authorities, nationwide, for the well-being of the people and the sustainability of small businesses, amid increasingly challenging global economic conditions,” he said.
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir yesterday confirmed that MTEN had formally encouraged local councils and state administrations nationwide to implement rental reductions immediately as part of broader cost-of-living mitigation measures.
The council also reviewed long-term policy improvements involving supply monitoring and pricing mechanisms, including the development of a Global Supply Crisis Monitoring Dashboard jointly created by the Economy Ministry and the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
According to Akmal, the dashboard is expected to become publicly accessible beginning May 15 and is intended to improve transparency surrounding supply conditions and pricing trends.
Alongside the government’s economic measures, Anwar also reaffirmed Putrajaya’s commitment to Sabah, stressing that federal policies must deliver practical and measurable improvements to communities across the state, particularly in rural regions.
The Prime Minister said Sabah’s welfare and development agenda was among the matters discussed during a courtesy meeting involving Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan and Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar.
According to Anwar, discussions centred heavily on improving living standards, creating stronger economic opportunities and strengthening public wellbeing initiatives for Sabahans.
“The discussion also focused on efforts to improve the people’s standard of living, particularly in rural areas, including measures to strengthen economic opportunities and enhance public wellbeing.
“The MADANI Government will continue to focus on Sabah’s needs to ensure that every policy and assistance initiative is not merely announced, but genuinely reaches and benefits the people on the ground, Insya-Allah,” he said.
The latest announcements reflect the government’s broader strategy of combining targeted welfare assistance with structural economic interventions as Malaysia navigates inflationary pressures, supply volatility and uncertain global market conditions.
They also underscore growing concern within Putrajaya over the social impact of prolonged cost-of-living increases, particularly among lower-income households, petty traders and communities in rural and economically vulnerable regions. - May 13, 2026
