The government will continue offering affordable internet packages under the Rahmah initiative to ease the financial burden faced by Malaysians. This was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in Parliament earlier today.
Anwar confirmed that Rahmah Packages for internet services will be maintained, ensuring continued access to affordable connectivity, particularly for low-income households and students. While exact details of the new offerings have yet to be disclosed, the announcement follows the previous rollout of connectivity-focused Rahmah Package in 2023. It remains unclear whether these packages will be revised or rebranded to better reflect current internet usage patterns, but the Prime Minister’s assurance suggests that similar initiatives will persist under the updated Rahmah banner.
Aside from internet services, Anwar said the government will intensify other Payung Rahmah programmes such as Jualan Rahmah, Menu Rahmah, Kafe Rahmah, and Bakul Rahmah to ensure wider access to affordable food. He also highlighted the introduction of 17 forms of aid for students up to secondary level, including food subsidies, early school aid and scholarships aimed at improving nutrition and education access.
Further, financial assistance under Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) has been increased, with the SARA programme now expanded to benefit 5.4 million recipients, up from 700,000 previously. This includes a one-off RM100 cash aidt for all Malaysians aged 18 and above. Additional cost-saving measures include subsidised public transport and domestic airfares for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, along with electricity bill reductions through Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s Time-of-Use scheme.
(Source: The Sun)
