KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, August 12, 2025 – In a bid to alleviate the rising cost of living, the Malaysian government has ramped up funding for the Madani Rahmah Sales Program (PJRM), increasing its total allocation to RM600 million for 2025. This move, announced during a parliamentary session today, aims to ensure essential goods reach more low-income households at discounted prices.
The initiative came under scrutiny in the Dewan Rakyat when Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi questioned the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali on strategies to guarantee the funds benefit the intended recipients. Wong sought details on new initiatives and the actual number of people expected to gain direct advantages from the program.
In response, Armizan highlighted PJRM as a key component of the broader Payung Rahmah framework, designed to provide daily necessities—both food and non-food items—at prices 10% to 30% below local market rates. “This program serves as an intervention mechanism to lighten the burden on the people’s cost of living,” the minister stated.
The budget escalation began with an increase from RM200 million to RM300 million in the 2025 Budget, including RM252 million specifically for PJRM. On July 23, 2025, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced an additional RM300 million, pushing the total for Payung Rahmah to RM600 million, with RM552 million earmarked for PJRM.
With the enhanced funding, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDN) plans to organize 20,000 PJRM events nationwide by December 2025. These will cover all 222 parliamentary constituencies, over 600 state assembly areas, and 40 zones in the Federal Territories—an expansion from the initial target of 15,360 events.
To maximize impact, the ministry outlined three major enhancements:
1. Increased Frequency : More frequent sales across all parliamentary and state areas to broaden accessibility.
2. Expanded Product Range : New stock keeping units (SKUs) tailored to local needs and seasonal demands, including school supplies, fresh produce during market-based PJRM@Pasar events, and student essentials at PJRM@Kampus in public and private higher education institutions.
3. Diversified Delivery Models: Sales will be conducted in-premises, in open or premium outdoor spaces, and via mobile units for greater reach.
The program will also collaborate with strategic partners under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) scheme, allowing SARA beneficiaries to purchase items at even lower prices during PJRM events.
As of July 31, 2025, 13,060 PJRM series have already been held, resulting in 15,626,464 transactions that have directly benefited Malaysians. Armizan emphasized that these figures demonstrate the program’s positive impact, with further monitoring to ensure funds are effectively utilized.