Anwar highlights govt aid delivered to public under Madani reforms

KULAI: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted a series of government assistance programmes as evidence of the Madani administration’s efforts to ease the cost of living for Malaysians.

At a youth gathering today, Anwar said his government had strengthened cash aid delivery and expanded support for lower-income groups since taking office in November 2022.

He said some households are now receiving up to RM1,800 in aid depending on family size, and stressed that the system had been improved to ensure faster and more targeted delivery.

He also pointed to programmes such as the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), saying beneficiaries now receive funds directly without having to queue for assistance.

“Do you have to queue for SARA? No. Do you have to queue for STR? No. The money goes straight into your account,” he said.

Anwar also cited broader cost-of-living measures implemented by the government, including fuel pricing adjustments, and salary increases for civil servants and police personnel.

The crowd broke into loud applause when he defended the government’s fuel subsidy reforms, saying it had delivered on its promise to lower fuel prices despite the challenges.

“Do you think it was easy? It wasn’t. But we kept our promise. Malaysia now has one of the lowest fuel prices in the world,” he said.

Anwar said the reforms required time to show full impact, noting that previous administrations had governed for more than six decades compared with the current government’s shorter tenure.

“They ruled for more than 60 years. We’ve only had two or three years. We can’t fix everything at once,” he said.

He urged voters to judge the government based on policy outcomes, adding that development initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the RTS Link must also translate into tangible benefits for ordinary Malaysians.

The event was also attended by home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, human resources minister R Ramanan, and deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching, who is also the Kulai MP.