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Malaysia to absorb fuel subsidy costs to shield households from price rises

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged that Malaysian households will not face higher petrol prices despite potential subsidy expenditure reaching $14 billion. The government will absorb the increased costs to protect consumers from additional financial pressure.

LSN Singapore · 24 October 2026

Malaysia to absorb fuel subsidy costs to shield households from price rises

Malaysia's government will maintain current RON95 petrol prices for consumers even as fuel subsidy bills potentially escalate to $14 billion, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced. The commitment reflects the administration's priority of shielding households from mounting cost-of-living pressures, according to Anwar's statement. The decision to absorb higher subsidy expenses underscores the government's approach to protecting domestic purchasing power amid broader economic challenges facing the nation. By maintaining stable fuel prices at the pump, authorities aim to prevent downstream price increases across transportation and consumer goods sectors that typically follow energy cost hikes. The subsidy programme remains a significant fiscal commitment as global crude oil prices and market volatility continue to influence Malaysia's energy sector economics.