Lower taxes, tariffs not ruled out to help businesses address energy crisis

 Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the priority now is to ensure an adequate supply of essential goods, along with price controls, to safeguard the interests of the people.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government will look into providing some flexibility to businesses as it studies mechanisms to help them cope with the global energy crisis. (Bernama pic)

IPOH:

 The government is studying mechanisms to help businesses cope with the impact of the global energy crisis, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said the current priority is to ensure an adequate supply of essential goods, along with price controls, to safeguard the interests of the people.

“That is the priority. Then we will look at whether we can provide some flexibility to businesses, whether in terms of taxes, tariffs or other charges, so that these can be reduced to help lower costs.

“There are also suggestions regarding e-invoicing, including whether it can be deferred.

“All of these are being studied to reduce the burden on both the people and traders,” he told reporters after officiating the Perak Madani Rakyat Programme 2026 here today.

Anwar said this when asked whether the government would introduce an economic stimulus package in response to the current global energy crisis.

Kamil Munim, Anwar’s political secretary in his capacity as the finance minister, recently said the government may introduce an economic stimulus package to help Malaysians deal with rising prices caused by the Middle East war.

He said the stimulus measures would be similar to those rolled out during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Berita Harian.

Putrajaya allocated a total of RM530 billion across eight economic stimulus and aid packages to address the Covid-19 pandemic, including RM83 billion of direct fiscal injections. - FMT