Bold, independent coverage of Malaysian politics, business and current affairs.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has praised the NADI Mahir school uniform initiative for reducing financial burden on parents through instalment payments while creating entrepreneurial opportunities for local businesses.
Japan will temporarily reduce sales tax on food to just one percent from April 2025 for two years, marking the first cut since the levy was introduced in 1989. The move aims to relieve cost-of-living pressures amid persistent inflation.
Malaysia's unsubsidised fuel prices will jump 20 sen per litre from July 30, with RON97 climbing to RM4.40 and diesel to RM4.62. The Ministry of Finance attributes the hike to Middle East tensions and disruptions to key shipping routes.
Malaysia's Senate has passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2026, granting the Malaysia Competition Commission enhanced powers to combat cartels and monopolies amid rising living costs. The law targets sophisticated anti-competitive tactics in the digital economy.
The Jualan MADANI KUSKOP programme is expanding across Sabah's rural districts to provide affordable essential goods and discounts to remote communities through cooperative networks.
Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh has identified university cooperation—particularly through affordable premises and reasonable rents—as essential for expanding the Menu Rahmah affordable meal programme across Malaysian campuses.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has committed to raising SARA assistance levels in the near future, responding to public concerns over mounting cost-of-living pressures despite existing government support schemes.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to reducing taxes on electricity bills, moving forward with campaign pledges aimed at alleviating the cost-of-living pressures faced by millions of households across the country.
Newly sworn in UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has dismantled his predecessor's inner circle through significant cabinet reorganization, while pledging a comprehensive ten-year economic programme targeting household affordability and signalling a shift towards progressive policies.
The UK's incoming Prime Minister has shelved a digital identity scheme proposed by outgoing Labour leader Keir Starmer, redirecting the £1.8 billion budget toward addressing the cost-of-living crisis gripping Britain.
Andy Burnham, the prominent Northern England politician known as the 'King of the North', has taken office as Britain's seventh prime minister in ten years, committing to fundamental reforms addressing the cost-of-living crisis and deteriorating public services.
Small companies and local contractors nationwide will receive 300 litres of subsidised diesel monthly via fleet cards, a new measure designed to ease operating costs under Malaysia's targeted subsidy programme launched in July.
Malaysia's government has invested RM238.64 million in the MADANI Rahmah Sales Programme during the first seven months of 2024, recording more than 21 million transactions across the nation as part of efforts to ease the cost of living.
Malaysia's Essential Goods Distribution Programme is delivering measurable results in rural communities, with LPG and cooking oil prices falling significantly. The initiative covers 1.03 million residents across six states.
Malaysia's SARA cashless assistance programme has reached 99% utilisation among nearly nine million monthly recipients, channelling RM3.45 billion into the local economy this year as the government expands its social safety net.
Malaysia's government is deploying the PAKW basic living expenditure framework to design region-specific policies addressing cost-of-living gaps between urban and rural areas, with significant variations in household spending across states.
The Malaysian government has pledged to sustain all existing subsidy programmes and cash assistance schemes despite projecting nearly RM40 billion in petroleum product subsidies this year, driven by geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Pakatan Harapan unveiled its Johor state election manifesto, emphasizing realistic, implementable commitments rather than hollow promises. The coalition prioritizes affordable housing, healthcare, and transport assistance alongside education reforms.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia's Amir Syafiq Ameer Soekre is contesting the Skudai seat in Johor's July 11 election, campaigning on cost-of-living and fair wages amid four-way contest.
Residents of Bukit Batu in Johor are calling for urgent action on cost of living, employment opportunities, and infrastructure maintenance ahead of the state election on July 11, with five candidates competing for the seat.
The Dewan Rakyat is examining proposed changes to SUHAKAM's funding model and investigating why official inflation figures diverge from Malaysians' real cost-of-living experiences.
Malaysia launches an expanded BUDI Diesel subsidy programme benefiting 700,000 private vehicle owners at RM2.10 per litre, up from 180,000 under the previous scheme. The initiative extends to East Malaysia and includes commercial vehicles.