MADANI 2025 Initiatives: Strengthening Social Safety Nets, Easing The Cost Of Living

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- Amid a turbulent global economy and the relentless rise in living costs, families across the country are feeling the squeeze.

In response, the MADANI Government has rolled out a series of initiatives to safeguard its citizens' well-being and ease everyday pressures.

These initiatives aim to ease household expenses and strengthen the nation’s social safety net, ensuring the most vulnerable are not left behind.

Key efforts include enhancing and expanding the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) schemes, which have been adjusted to reflect current living costs, including food, education, and transport.

STR is a cash-based aid programme, while SARA allows the purchase of essential goods using MyKad at selected outlets, to ease the burden on those in need, with disbursements improved each year.

Funding for STR and SARA has also been increased from RM10 billion in 2024 to RM13 billion in 2025, with the expanded eligibility covering low-income households, senior citizens and low-income singles.

So far, more than 5.4 million monthly SARA recipients under STR have used their MyKad to purchase essential goods at registered outlets, with a 98 per cent utilisation rate and spending totalling RM3.6 billion as of Nov 3.

Meanwhile, for the RM100 SARA Appreciation scheme, over 83 per cent of recipients have benefited, amounting to RM1.69 billion.

To ensure the effective implementation of the programmes, the government is also strengthening collaboration with the private sector and non-governmental organisations through the Payung Rahmah initiative.

One initiative under this strategy is Rahmah Sales, which sells essential goods at lower prices. As of October, it had recorded around 21 million transactions, with total sales estimated at RM800 million.

Efforts to support the public also include ensuring access to petrol subsidies, a key concern among the M40 group. Relief came in September when the government announced that they would also be eligible for the petrol subsidies.

BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) initiative introduces a new approach to targeted petrol subsidies, ensuring that all citizens with a valid driving licence benefit, regardless of income.

The initiative lowers petrol prices to RM1.99 per litre, compared with the market price of RM2.05, benefitting more than 13.1 million Malaysians out of around 16.5 million eligible as of Oct 31.

BUDI95 has also contributed to national savings of over RM7 billion, as well as around RM400 million a month in savings through diesel subsidy rationalisation measures.

Efforts to support household living costs have also been strengthened through the Early Schooling Aid (BAP) scheme for students from Year One to Form Six, which is distributed earlier to help parents prepare school supplies.

Beyond subsidy assistance, the government is also strengthening community development through the SejaTi MADANI programme and Kampung Angkat (adopted village) initiative, focusing on small infrastructure improvements such as village roads, street lighting and local basic amenities.

The programmes also include support for sanitation, learning activities and efforts to boost residents’ incomes, aiming to narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas.

The government is also bolstering the social safety net by improving welfare assistance under the Social Welfare Department (JKM), covering support for senior citizens, children from low-income households and general aid in areas identified as needing additional support.

Overall, the rollout of various initiatives throughout 2025 reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding public welfare through an inclusive, sustainable and targeted approach under the Malaysia MADANI framework.

-- BERNAMA