As Malaysia celebrates its 69th Merdeka Day today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced six immediate measures aimed at easing living costs and addressing the daily pressures faced by Malaysians.
The measures cover subsidised fuel, school maintenance, artificial intelligence, healthcare digitalisation, e-Invoicing and microfinancing. Most will take effect from 1 September 2026.
Anwar acknowledged that despite the government’s previous efforts, many Malaysians were still struggling with rising living costs.
“Although various measures have been implemented, I, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Cabinet have never assumed that we have solved all the problems,” he said during his Merdeka Day address at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday.
Malaysia Marks Merdeka With Six Measures
1. Higher BUDI MADANI Fuel Quotas
The government will restore the basic monthly eligibility under the BUDI MADANI RON95 programme, also known as BUDI95, from 200 litres to 300 litres.
The change will allow more than 16 million Malaysians to continue purchasing subsidised RON95 petrol within the higher monthly limit.
More than 500,000 eligible owners of diesel-powered pickup trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles will also receive up to 400 litres of subsidised diesel every month under Budi Diesel.
The higher quotas are intended to provide immediate relief to Malaysians who depend on their vehicles for work, business and daily travel.
2. RM1.5 Billion To Maintain Schools
The government will increase its school maintenance allocation for 2027 by 50 per cent, from RM1 billion to RM1.5 billion.
The funding will cover all types of schools, including national schools, Chinese and Tamil national-type schools, religious schools, tahfiz and pondok schools, as well as special education institutions.
Anwar has instructed the Education Ministry to begin reviewing infrastructure repair applications at the district level. This is intended to allow repair and maintenance work to begin as early as January 2027.
3. Free AI Subscriptions For 100,000 Malaysian Youths
Under the AI Untuk Rakyat programme, 100,000 Malaysians aged between 18 and 30 will receive free access to selected AI applications for three months.
To qualify, participants must first complete the required AI learning modules through Rakyat Digital.
The free subscriptions will include AI applications such as IlmuChat, Gemini Enterprise, Wonderclip and MuleRun.
The initiative is designed to introduce more young Malaysians to practical AI tools that can support learning, creativity, productivity and entrepreneurship.
4. RM1 Billion To Digitalise Public Healthcare
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission will provide RM1 billion to improve digital efficiency across the public healthcare system.
The funding will support the implementation of Electronic Medical Records and better internet connectivity at 150 hospitals and more than 2,000 public health clinics nationwide.
The improvements are expected to help healthcare providers manage patient information more efficiently, speed up medical processes and reduce treatment waiting times.
5. More Small Businesses Exempted From e-Invoicing
The government will raise the annual sales threshold for e-Invoicing exemption from RM1 million to RM3 million.
This means businesses with annual sales of RM3 million or below will no longer be required to implement e-Invoicing.
The change could reduce administrative costs and compliance pressure for thousands of micro and small businesses that may not yet have the staff, software or financial resources needed to manage a digital invoicing system.
6. RM6 Billion In Microfinancing And RM200 Million In Grants
Microfinancing facilities for 2026 will be increased by RM1 billion, bringing the total available funding from RM5 billion to RM6 billion.
The additional financing is intended to give more micro-entrepreneurs access to capital to purchase equipment, increase their inventory or grow their operations.
The government will also introduce the RM200 million Geran Sejahtera MADANI to support hawkers, small traders, night market traders and mothers operating businesses from home.
Further information on eligibility requirements, application procedures and the amount available to each recipient has yet to be announced.
More Announcements Expected After Merdeka Day
Anwar said the six measures were based on the principle that the benefits of economic growth should be returned to the people.
“This is the spirit of our unity. Hopefully, all six measures can be implemented because they stem from one clear principle, namely that economic growth must be returned to the people,” he said.
He also said billions of ringgit recovered through legal proceedings involving proceeds linked to illegal activities would be channelled back to the public, particularly to strengthen education and healthcare.
Further measures are expected to be announced during the Malaysia Day celebration in Sarawak and through the tabling of Budget 2027.
For now, the six Merdeka measures offer a combination of immediate relief and longer-term investment, covering the daily needs of motorists, students, patients, young Malaysians and small business owners.
Sources: 1 | 2
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