KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Tuesday measures to ease the burden on the country's consumers as the prolonged disruptions in the Middle East continue to drive higher prices in goods and services.

These include reducing rental rates for small traders and providing an advance payment to nearly 240,000 registered farmers, Anwar said in a televised speech.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, stressed that the government remains attentive to the challenges faced by farmers, particularly rising fuel and agricultural input costs linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Anwar added that the government would continue exploring measures to ease the cost burden on the public amid ongoing global supply pressures.

"We are facing significant challenges, but we will do our utmost to alleviate the burden on the people, especially those who are relatively poorer and more vulnerable," he said. ■