
Chinese chambers of commerce welcomes govt's measures to ease cost of living
"These measures would help to ease the cost of living and spur household consumption expenditure," ACCCIM said in a statement.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made a highly anticipated announcement, which he described as an 'extraordinary tribute' to Malaysians. The measures include a one-off RM100 cash aid for all Malaysians aged 18 and above, the freezing of toll hikes on 10 highways, and continued Rahmah Madani sales.
The government also announced that the RON95 petrol price will be reduced to RM1.99 per litre when targeted subsidies begin this September. In addition, Sept 15 has been declared a public holiday for Malaysia Day celebrations.
The association said that the fuel price drop would benefit around 18 million car and motorcycle users, pending further details on the eligibility criteria.
ACCCIM expressed hope that the targeted subsidy mechanism would be easy to implement to ensure a smooth rollout.
Looking ahead, ACCCIM said it was looking forward to the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) on July 31 and the 2026 Budget on Oct 10, with a focus on sustaining economic resilience and development continuity.
The chamber urged the government to avoid new tax measures or policies that could further burden businesses, which are already grappling with rising costs.
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