Malaysia's Anwar announces cash handouts in bid to ease living costs
In a televised address on Wednesday, Anwar said the assistance would benefit 22 million Malaysians and be redeemable at more than 4,000 stores from August 31 to December 31.
Anwar said the government would also reduce the price of subsidised petrol from 1.99 ringgit per liter from 2.05 ringgit per liter for citizens, and freeze planned hikes in toll rates on 10 highways.
An extra public holiday will also be scheduled for 15 September this year to coincide with Malaysia Day, the holiday marking federation, Anwar said.
'Malaysian households, especially those in the low and middle-income groups, will welcome the cost-of-living relief provided by the measures,' Yeah Kim Leng, an economics professor at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur, told Al Jazeera.
Anwar's announcement comes days before a planned rally in Kuala Lumpur to demand his resignation over rising living costs and his alleged failure to implement promised reforms.
Police have said they expect up to 15,000 people to attend Saturday's protest, which was organised by the opposition Perikatan Nasional coalition.
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