Anwar said the move would involve all premises under agencies such as Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and UDA Holdings Bhd, with specific details to be announced soon.

“I believe the first step we must take is to reduce rental rates. Starting this month, rent at all government-owned business premises will be reduced,” Anwar said in a televised briefing on the global energy crisis.

He urged all local authorities and state governments to follow suit by lowering rental rates for business premises owned by their agencies, adding that Kuala Lumpur City Hall had already done so and that the Selangor government is expected to announce similar reductions soon.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, announced that Putrajaya would provide an upfront payment of RM200 per hectare to padi farmers under the special ploughing incentive to help cover initial costs such as machinery rental.

He said this initiative, which would cost the government some RM48 million, would benefit about 240,000 registered padi farmers.

He said the assistance was in response to northern Kedah facing a prolonged dry spell that had affected padi farming and cultivation while farmers grappled with rising operational costs.

Anwar also said the Rahmah sales programme would be expanded across the nation as part of efforts to reduce the cost of goods.

He said more than 25,000 Rahmah sales programmes were held nationwide last year, and that the target for 2026 has been increased to 30,000.

The programmes will be held weekly in every state constituency, including selected rural and village areas, with priority given to small traders rather than large companies.

Anwar acknowledged that these measures would not resolve every issue being faced by Malaysians but said they would help ease immediate cost of living pressures.