KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has signalled that a major announcement to address the rising cost of living will be made early next week, describing it as an “extraordinary tribute” to Malaysians.
Anwar said the Finance Ministry is currently finalising proposals that can be implemented quickly to ease public burden, with the announcement expected by Monday or Tuesday.
“We are working every day at the Finance Ministry to find an approach that can be announced soon, especially to address the cost of living,” he said during the launch of the Madani Bumiputera Tunas Master Plan and the JKPSB Housing Project at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Permatang Pauh today.
“If not Monday, Tuesday… give me two, three more days to refine it. I will announce it later. Pray for the best, God willing.”
He added that more time was needed to prepare the “surprise” in greater detail to ensure it would be comprehensive and impactful.
“The country is currently facing an increase in the cost of living, but it is not only happening in Malaysia—it is a global problem.
“We want to increase salaries and allowances for public servants by RM10 billion this year, and next year by an additional RM18 billion. We also want to increase the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) to RM23 billion,” he said.
Anwar said the government is striving to balance the rising cost of living with the country’s fiscal capacity, noting that assistance spending has already reached tens of billions of ringgit.
Earlier this week, Anwar teased the announcement on social media with a poster reading “Coming soon”, accompanied by the message: “An extraordinary appreciation for Malaysians. With Malaysiaku.”
The post sparked excitement among netizens, who expressed anticipation for what is expected to be a comprehensive and people-focused initiative. — July 19, 2025