SST Expansion Explained: What Became Taxable in Malaysia
Malaysia expanded the scope of its Sales and Service Tax from July 2025. Here is what changed, which services are now taxed, and how SST differs from the old GST.
#cost of living
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Food Security Must Rank With Defence, Say UK Campaigners
More than 100 British organisations have called on new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to elevate food security to a strategic national priority, warning that another supply shock is imminent following years of price inflation.
Fuel Theft in Britain Surges as Energy Crisis Deepens Post-Iran Conflict
Fuel theft from British petrol stations has exploded since February's Iran crisis, with thieves now stealing nearly £200,000 worth daily. Surging pump prices and economic hardship are fuelling the crime wave.
Selangor Provides Shopping Vouchers to 8,391 Non-Pensioned Military and Police Veterans
Selangor has launched a new assistance programme distributing RM200 shopping vouchers to 8,391 non-pensioned veterans from the Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police, with plans to expand coverage next year.
Jualan MADANI KUSKOP Expands Into Sabah's Remote Communities
Malaysia's Jualan MADANI KUSKOP programme is expanding across Sabah's rural communities to improve access to essential goods at reduced prices, with the government channelling substantial subsidies and discounts to support vulnerable populations.
Negeri Sembilan Voters Demand Accessible Leaders with Real Solutions
Negeri Sembilan voters are prioritising accessibility and tangible results from their leaders ahead of the state election on August 1, with cost of living and employment emerging as key concerns.
Government to boost SARA payments soon, says PM Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to raise the SARA assistance scheme in the coming months to help Malaysians cope with inflation, after reviewing public concerns and economic conditions.
Britain's New PM Andy Burnham to Cut Electricity Taxes in Cost-of-Living Push
Britain's newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to reducing taxes on electricity bills as part of efforts to tackle the ongoing cost-of-living crisis gripping the nation.
Burnham Takes Office as UK Prime Minister, Overhauling Cabinet and Charting Leftward Course
Andy Burnham assumed the British premiership on Monday, removing loyalists from his predecessor's government while committing to a 10-year strategy addressing cost-of-living challenges and repositioning the UK leftward.
Malaysia Cannot Afford Deeper Fuel Price Cuts, Says PM Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rejected calls for lower fuel prices, citing the government's annual RM40 billion subsidy commitment and warning that further reductions would destabilise Malaysia's fiscal health.
UK's Incoming PM Abandons Digital ID Plan, Redirects Resources to Cost-of-Living Crisis
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has abandoned a proposed digital identity scheme, redirecting an estimated £1.8 billion toward tackling the country's persistent cost-of-living crisis rather than implementing border controls.
Rahmah MADANI Sales to Expand Frequency Amid Cost-of-Living Pressures
Malaysia's trade ministry will increase the frequency of Rahmah MADANI Sales programmes to address soaring consumer prices, while balancing concerns from local retailers about their livelihoods.
UK's Next Prime Minister To Scrap Digital ID Plans
Andy Burnham, set to become UK Prime Minister, will abandon the national digital ID programme to redirect resources toward tackling the cost-of-living crisis and decentralising government powers.
Small Firms and Local Contractors Get 300-Litre Monthly Diesel Quota Under Targeted Subsidy Scheme
Malaysia's domestic trade ministry has introduced a 300-litre monthly diesel quota for small companies and local contractors through fleet cards, effective since the targeted subsidy programme launched on July 1 in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.
Government Allocates RM238.64 Million to MADANI Rahmah Subsidy Programme in First Seven Months
The government has disbursed RM238.64 million on the MADANI Rahmah Sales Programme between January and mid-July, processing over 21 million transactions nationwide. Officials aim to expand the initiative significantly by year-end.
Rural Price Controls Working: Essential Goods Programme Closes City-Village Gap
Malaysia's Essential Goods Distribution Programme is effectively standardising prices for basic commodities across rural and remote regions, with government data showing significant reductions in cost disparities between urban and isolated communities.
SARA Assistance Programme Achieves 99% Uptake, Records RM3.45 Billion in Transactions
Malaysia's SARA assistance programme has achieved 99% uptake among nearly nine million monthly recipients, with RM3.45 billion in transactions recorded so far this year, the Ministry of Finance confirmed.
Finance Ministry to Study SST Exemption for Elderly Care Centres
Malaysia's Finance Ministry is jointly examining whether to exempt elderly care centres from the 8% Sales and Service Tax, responding to concerns that the levy burdens families already struggling with high living costs.
Government Deploys PAKW Framework to Bridge Urban-Rural Living Cost Divide
Malaysia's government is leveraging the PAKW basic living expenditure framework to design targeted interventions addressing the significant cost-of-living gap between urban and rural regions, with data showing Kuala Lumpur households need RM5,639 monthly versus RM4,254 in Kelantan.
Pakatan Harapan's Johor Pledge: Tackling Cost of Living Through Structural Reform, Not Quick Fixes
Pakatan Harapan's Johor election manifesto emphasises sustainable solutions to cost of living pressures, featuring a public monitoring dashboard and commitments spanning healthcare, housing, and transport assistance.
Mexico Celebrates World Cup Success While Grappling With Deep Social Fractures
Mexico's World Cup progress has sparked national celebration, yet the tournament unfolds against a backdrop of 135,000 missing persons, persistent inflation, and public protests. Citizens struggle to separate sporting pride from serious governance concerns.
PSM's Skudai Candidate Pushes Cost of Living Battle in Johor Election Fight
Parti Sosialis Malaysia fields one candidate in the Johor state election, focusing his campaign on cost-of-living pressures and wage inequality affecting Skudai residents who commute to Singapore for work.
Johor Voters Put Cost of Living and Jobs at Centre of Election Campaign
Voters in Johor's Bukit Batu constituency are demanding that elected representatives tackle spiralling living costs, create quality jobs, and fix deteriorating infrastructure in the lead-up to the state election on July 11.