KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya has allocated RM1 billion under Budget 2025 for efforts aimed at addressing the rakyat’s cost of living, including the Payung Rahmah initiative.
In tabling Budget 2025 today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) said that the Payung Rahmah programme’s allocation will be increased from RM100 million to RM300 million.
The increased funding will be utilised for events where essential goods at reasonable prices will be offered at every state constituency, even those with opposition state assemblymen, said Anwar, who is also the finance minister.
Another RM700 million has been set aside to increase the number of channels for cost-of-living programmes, including those aimed at controlling the price of goods.
This will see the government engaging in joint ventures with the private sector, including supermarket and wholesale store operators.
Separately, RM250 million has been allocated for efforts to distribute essential items to rural and urban areas as well as expanding such initiatives to other locations such as Magandai in Kota Marudu and Nanga Pelawan in Bintulu. – October 18, 2024