Fast, factual wire coverage from across Malaysia and the region.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has welcomed Malaysia's stronger-than-anticipated economic growth in the second quarter, asserting that government interventions have successfully insulated Malaysian households from international inflationary pressures.
Japan will reduce sales tax on food to just 1% starting April 2025 for two years, marking the first cut since the tax's 1989 introduction. PM Sanae Takaichi says the move addresses inflation pressures from Middle East tensions and currency weakness.
Malaysia's central bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged this week as cheaper crude oil and the BUDI Diesel programme reduce inflationary pressure, though second-round effects remain a concern.