PETALING JAYA: Motorists will enjoy a 50% discount on toll charges in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri to ease the cost of travelling back to hometowns, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the decision was made at the Cabinet meeting as part of the government’s comprehensive move to help the people address the rising cost of living, particularly during festive seasons.
“This initiative involves a financial commitment totalling RM21.03mil for the purpose of compensating the concessionaires,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the discount will take effect from 12:01am today until 11:59pm tomorrow.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said this applies to Class 1 private vehicles on all highways except at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) Toll Plaza and the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza on the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkdua).
On another matter, Anwar said about 4,000 individuals, particularly single mothers and fathers, will be freed from bankruptcy under a fast-track discharge initiative in time for Aidilfitri.
He said the initiative, to be implemented by the Insolvency Department, is part of a broader set of measures to ease the people’s burden amid the ongoing global economic uncertainty.
“All these measures reflect the values of compassion and humanity that form the core of the Madani government, ensuring that the people continue to benefit from the prosperity we are building together,” he said.
The move is part of a broader set of measures rolled out to help Malaysians cope with the current uncertainty.
“As the global economy continues to face uncertainty, the Madani government remains steadfast in protecting the welfare of the people, especially in preparation for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“Several measures have been implemented to ease the people’s burden and ensure smooth preparations,” he said.
Among them are the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) Phase 2 payments on March 10, benefiting 5.2 million recipients with a total allocation of RM1.3bil.
Financial assistance has also been extended to civil servants, pensioners and veterans, as well as more than 70,000 religious personnel, including imams, bilal, mosque caretakers and Kafa teachers.
To address cost of living concerns, he said a Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme is being enforced from March 14 to 28, along with nearly 1,900 Rahmah Madani sales programmes nationwide, to ensure an adequate supply of essential goods at reasonable prices.
The government has also barred the sale of subsidised cooking oil packets to foreigners.
Anwar also urged the public to remain prudent in their spending during the festive period, noting that financial discipline remains important amid continued global uncertainties.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the proposal for work from home (WFH) arrangements in the public sector will be reviewed after Aidilfitri.
“The Prime Minister has requested that several matters be organised more systematically and presented for decisions at the upcoming Economic Action Council meeting after Hari Raya,” he said during the ministry’s weekly press conference in Putrajaya.
Fahmi, who is also the government spokesman, said the consideration is focused on the public sector, while the private sector is free to implement such arrangements.
However, he noted that frontliners as well as those in the education and health sectors will not be eligible for remote work arrangements.
Separately, he said about 100 soon-to-retire Malaysian Armed Forces personnel will be offered pathways into the logistics sector through strengthened Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, with starting salaries of up to RM5,000.
On enforcement matters, Fahmi said the Subsidised Diesel Control Scheme (SKDS) is under review to curb smuggling in Sabah and Sarawak.
“This is to determine whether the scheme should continue in its current form or be restructured,” he said.
Fahmi also said the Cabinet has been briefed on developments regarding the United States-Malaysia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, with further details expected following upcoming discussions in Washington.
