(Sept 14): As a short term measure to tackle rising living costs in Malaysia, especially for the lower income category, the government will build more Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) and Klinik 1Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

In an announcement on special economic measures at his office in Putrajaya today, Najib said that the government will open up 27 more KR1M between this year and next year, while adding 49 more clinics in the same period.

"The government will add the amount of shops that sells services and goods at reasonable prices, such as Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia, Menu 1Malaysia and Kedai Buku 1Malaysia," Najib said.

Currently, there are 169 KR1M nationwide and 326 Klinik 1Malaysia.

He also said that the government will speed up the construction of affordable housing projects.

"Individual borrowers can also apply through the Counseling and Credit Management Agency to restructure their repayment from institutions that have out credit," he said. – The Malaysian Insider