Day: June 19, 2026

Sustainable Business: DBKL allocates RM200 million to rebuild 287 stall locations

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has allocated RM200 million under the Sustainable Business @ Kuala Lumpur 2026 Programme to redevelop and improve hawker facilities at 287 locations in the capital. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the large-scale initiative would benefit more than 11,000 small traders and hawkers to ensure they can operate in a safer, more organised and conducive environment. He said DBKL always takes a fair approach by considering the views of all stakeholders including residents, traders and building tenants in implementing the relocation and upgrading of hawker area programmes. "This year, DBKL will implement this program in many locations. In the issue of placement of small traders, DBKL needs to consider various voices including residents who want smooth traffic, traders and building tenants to conduct business. "We have to be fair to all parties because each of them has their own views on the appropriate location," he told reporters after inspecting the hawker facilities upgrade project near UTC Sentul here today. Also present were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud and Batu Member of Parliament P. Prabakaran. Regarding the project to upgrade hawker facilities at UTC Sentul which went viral on social media recently, Hannah said she understood that DBKL had conducted an engagement session and implemented the redevelopment concept after taking into account all the feedback received. He said the renovation work on the existing structure was not aimed at driving away traders, but rather to rebuild 20 new, more comfortable modular kiosk units at a cost of RM1.6 million, which began on June 15 with completion expected before October. Meanwhile, Fadlun said that to ease the burden of 20 active traders who were affected during the construction period, DBKL was for the first time introducing special assistance of RM1,500 per month. He said the direct financial assistance approach was more efficient than providing temporary sites which not only cost a lot, but were sometimes less strategic and affected the number of customers compared to the original location. Fadlun said that after UTC Sentul, the simultaneous upgrading project using the approach of providing special incentives will continue in several other locations including Jalan Dato Senu, Pudu Ulu and Bandar Tun Razak. Regarding the Lestari Niaga programme, Fadlun said the total allocation of RM200 million involved various categories of hawkers under the supervision of DBKL in stages, with the initial phase focusing on 224 locations. "Of the total number involved, more than 4,000 are roadside hawkers while another 5,000 traders operate under the Mayor's assets and the remaining approximately 1,000 are in the re-application category," he said. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has allocated RM200 million under the Sustainable Business @ Kuala Lumpur 2026 Programme to redevelop and improve hawker facilities at 287 locations in the capital. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the large-scale initiative would benefit more than 11,000 small traders and hawkers […]

Why Everything in Malaysia Feels More Expensive in 2026 — Even When Salaries Don’t Move

There is a quiet frustration many Malaysians share today, often spoken at mamak tables, during lunch breaks, or in late-night conversations with friends: “Everything is getting more expensive, but my salary feels the same.” It is not just a feeling anymore. For many households across Malaysia—whether in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, or smaller towns—the cost of daily life has gradually shifted from manageable to constantly stretching the ringgit thinner than before. But what exactly is happening? The Invisible Inflation of Everyday Life Inflation is not new. Economists have always reminded us that prices rise over time. But what Malaysians are experiencing now feels different—it is not just the price of luxury goods or big-ticket items. It is the small, everyday things. A plate of nasi goreng that once cost RM6.50 is now RM8 or RM9. A simple café drink that used to be RM10 is now RM13 or RM15. Parking fees, tolls, groceries, even basic household items—all seem to have quietly adjusted upward. Individually, these increases feel minor. But collectively, they reshape monthly budgets in a very real way. For lower- and middle-income households, the difference is no longer about “saving a little less”—it is about choosing what to cut. Wages That Don’t Keep Up While prices have moved steadily upward, wages in many sectors have not kept pace at the same speed. Yes, Malaysia has seen minimum wage adjustments and salary revisions in some industries. But for many workers—especially those in entry-level jobs, gig work, or small and medium enterprises—the increase has not matched the real cost of living in urban areas. This creates a quiet imbalance: people are working just as hard, sometimes harder, but feeling like they are falling behind. It is not just about numbers on a payslip. It is about the psychological pressure of effort not translating into stability. The Middle-Class Squeeze Is Real Perhaps the most affected group today is the urban middle class. They earn “too much” to qualify for assistance, but not enough to comfortably absorb rising costs. Housing loans, car payments, childcare, education fees, and daily expenses form a tight monthly cycle that leaves little room for savings. Even small disruptions—such as a medical emergency or unexpected repair—can throw financial planning off balance. This is where many Malaysians quietly feel stuck: not struggling enough to be considered in crisis, but not comfortable enough to feel secure. Lifestyle Changes Are Masking the Problem One interesting shift is how Malaysians are adapting. Instead of large visible protests about cost of living, the response has been subtle and behavioural. People are: Eating out less often, or choosing cheaper spots Switching from cafés back to home-brewed drinks Delaying major purchases Relying more on online deals and second-hand markets Taking on side income or gig work On the surface, life goes on normally. But underneath, spending habits are being reshaped by necessity, not preference. Why It Feels Worse Today Part of the emotional weight comes from comparison. Social media constantly shows a lifestyle that feels increasingly out of reach—trips, cafés, gadgets, and “soft life” aesthetics. At the same time, real income growth feels slow. This gap between expectation and reality creates frustration that is not just financial, but emotional. People are not only asking “Can I afford this?” but also “Why does everyone else seem able to?” Is This the New Normal? Malaysia is not alone in facing cost pressures. Many countries are going through similar cycles of inflation, housing challenges, and wage stagnation. But locally, the concern is whether this gap between income and living costs is becoming structural rather than temporary. If wages do not adjust in step with real-world expenses, then affordability will slowly redefine what “middle class life” even means in Malaysia. A Quiet Question for the Future Ultimately, this is not just an economic issue—it is a quality-of-life issue. How long can households continue adjusting before something has to give? Will wages catch up, or will expectations simply continue to shrink? For now, Malaysians continue adapting in quiet ways. They budget more carefully, choose more selectively, and stretch each ringgit further than before. But the underlying question remains unresolved: If everything is getting more expensive, what exactly are we working so hard for? -- MINUTESMY / SUGAN BALAN

There is a quiet frustration many Malaysians share today, often spoken at mamak tables, during lunch breaks, or in late-night conversations with friends: “Everything is getting more expensive, but my salary feels the same.” It is not just a feeling anymore. For many households across Malaysia—whether in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, or smaller towns—the cost […]

Election: PKR Johor, Negeri Sembilan candidate list 99 percent final

JOHOR BAHRU: PKR's list of candidates for the State Elections (PRN) in Johor and Negeri Sembilan is now 99 percent final, said its Secretary-General Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh. He said the party would contest 20 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats in Johor and 16 seats in Negeri Sembilan, while the official announcement of candidates was expected to be made in the next few days. "We will feature a balanced mix of old and new faces, including women and young people. Regarding the percentage of new faces, wait for the announcement later," he told reporters after attending the Rahmah Sales Program at Econsave Taman Daya, here today. Commenting on Amanah Johor's claim against the Puteri Wangsa state seat, Fuziah said the issue of the seat dispute had been handed over entirely to the top leadership of the component parties to be resolved. Previously, Johor Amanah Vice Chairman Dr Zuhan Zain did not agree with the seat being handed over to PKR, stating that the seat belonged to them after being loaned to the Malaysian Democratic Alliance Party (MUDA) in the 2022 general election. "That (their claim of the seat) is a claim from Amanah Johor, but this matter will be resolved at the highest level," he said. Touching on the status of action against Subang MP Wong Chen who challenged PKR to sack him following a disciplinary investigation, Fuziah said the matter had been submitted to the party's Disciplinary Board for further action. The Election Commission (EC) has set the nomination day for the Johor state election on June 27, while polling day will be on July 11 after the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) was dissolved on June 1. The Johor state assembly has 56 seats and before the dissolution, Barisan Nasional (BN) controlled 40 seats followed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) (12), Perikatan Nasional (PN) (three) and MUDA (one). Meanwhile, the Negeri Sembilan state election is set for August 1 with the nomination dates on July 18 and July 28 for early voting. The Negeri Sembilan state assembly, which has 36 seats, was dissolved on June 5 and before the dissolution, PH controlled 17 seats, BN (14) and PN (five). -- BERNAMA

JOHOR BAHRU: PKR’s list of candidates for the State Elections (PRN) in Johor and Negeri Sembilan is now 99 percent final, said its Secretary-General Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh. He said the party would contest 20 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats in Johor and 16 seats in Negeri Sembilan, while the official announcement of candidates was […]

World Cup 2026: Czech Republic draw 1-1 with South Africa

ATLANTA: The Czech Republic were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in the World Cup on Thursday, keeping both teams' chances of advancing to the knockout stages, the German Press Agency (dpa) reported. Michal Sadilek opened the scoring for the Czechs in the sixth minute, set up by Aleksandr Sojka after Vladimir Coufal's long throw caused chaos in the South African defence. The equalizer in the 83rd minute came unexpectedly as Teboho Mokoena tricked goalkeeper Matěj Kovář into the opposite direction on a penalty kick after a handball incident by Pavel Šulc. South Africa failed to break down the Czech defense and did not score any tries until the 74th minute. The Czech team paid the price for being passive after their goal. Patrik Schick wasted a chance before the opposition goal and they only posed a slight threat in the first minute of the second half when Lukáš Červ was denied by Ronwen Williams and Schick headed into the goalkeeper's arms on the ensuing corner. Both teams have one point after losing their first matches, the Czech Republic 1-2 against South Korea and South Africa 0-2 against hosts Mexico. Mexico will face South Korea on Thursday, while the final Group A match next week will see the Czech Republic take on Mexico and South Africa meet South Korea. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups reach the round of 32 along with the eight best third-place finishers. South Africa have never made it past the group stage while the Czechs last reached the quarter-finals in 1990. Thursday's match was officiated by American referee Tori Penso, making it the second men's World Cup match to be overseen by a woman, four years after France's Stéphanie Frappart officiated the Germany-Costa Rica game. -- BERNAMA-dpa

ATLANTA: The Czech Republic were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in the World Cup on Thursday, keeping both teams’ chances of advancing to the knockout stages, the German Press Agency (dpa) reported. Michal Sadilek opened the scoring for the Czechs in the sixth minute, set up by Aleksandr Sojka after Vladimir Coufal’s […]