Malaysia’s fiscal position is improving, although pressure on the nation’s finances remains considerable.

The federal fiscal deficit narrowed from 4.1% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 to 3.7% in 2025, while federal government revenue increased to RM336.1 billion. Further consoli...

My Say: Tax better before taxing more

The world is dealing with multiple uncertainties, with rapidly evolving trade policies and tariffs adding a new economic dynamic that businesses and governments have not had to contend with in recent times. In October, the International Monetary Fund predicted slowing growth globally at 3.2% for 2025 and 3.1% in 2026. In comparison, Malaysia expects to grow 4% to 4.5% in 2026, albeit with a smaller rate of trade growth at 3.9%. Interestingly, the rate of growth in the manufacturing sector is expected to taper down from 3.8% in 2025 to 3% in 2026, possibly due to challenges in trade flows and supply chains.

My Say: Budget 2026: Balancing fiscal discipline with growth

Over the last few years, Malaysia has witnessed an array of significant fiscal announcements designed to support fiscal consolidation and facilitate the sustainability of public finances.

Recent fiscal policy developments

Among the notable measures are:


	Imp...

MY Say: Balancing the need to increase tax revenue with enhancing competitiveness

Asean is projected to sustain a positive economic trajectory in the near term, with regional real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.7% in 2024 and 4.8% in 2025. For comparison, the International Monetary Fund forecasts Malaysia’s growth at 4.4% in both 2024 and 2025.

Unctad’s Wor...

My Say: Regional taxation trends and Malaysia’s policy options

It is that time of the year again when the nation’s focus will be on the upcoming Budget 2024, scheduled to be tabled on Oct 13 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister. This will be Anwar’s second budget as prime minister, and will be based on the Malaysi...

My Say: Prioritising tax policies that are inclusive, equitable and sustainable is key to economic growth

Malaysia’s 2023 budget will be re­tabled on Feb 24. Last October, just before the tabling of the original Budget 2023, I had shared my views on how governments can use fiscal policy tools to support long-term, sustainable economic growth while still generating higher tax revenue, which is much ne...

My Say: How tax policies can help governments achieve balanced and sustainable economic growth

It’s the time of the year when the focus is on the upcoming National Budget, scheduled to be announced on Oct 7. One key question would be how the government plans to deploy fiscal policy tools that can both support long-term sustainable economic growth and generate higher tax revenue to reduce d...

My Say: How tax policy tools can accelerate economic recovery

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia, as with many other nations, has had to spend billions on stimulus measures to save lives and livelihoods. There is now the need to increase the nation’s revenue to fund these measures, and one obvious option is tax.

There are many view...

My Say: Making tax just happen

The government has announced more than RM300 billion in stimulus packages to address the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Governments across the globe have adopted a similar approach, with the overall objectives of protecting livelihoods and saving lives. Some reports indicate that US$17 trillio...

Pre-Budget 2021: Taxing our way to revenue and economic growth — fallacy or fact?

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): MyEG Services Bhd has to settle its outstanding payments in full before any application to resume its operations could be considered, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.

Loke: MyEG must settle outstanding payment before operations can resume

The global economy is under threat from persistently high energy prices, record public debt and risks from the artificial intelligence (AI) investment boom, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned on Wednesday, urging governments to take protective fiscal and monetary policy measures.

IMF chief warns energy shock, growing debt and AI risks threaten global growth

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): The High Court on Wednesday has asked Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to reconsider whether it wants to continue pursuing its stay application of having to pay RM1.3 million in damages to a retired senior police officer and his wife, over their home being badly damaged after DBKL had allowed the construction of a condominium nearby.

KL City Hall told to reconsider continuing with stay order application over having to pay RM1.3 million damages

Malaysia should consider imposing a special charge when plantation land is converted for high-value uses such as data centres, said Taylor’s University adjunct professor Dr Ong Kian Ming.

Capture data centre land windfall to fund oil palm replanting, says Ong Kian Ming

SEPANG (Oct 7): Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, with the repatriation of Myanmar nationals in Malaysia among key issues to be discussed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Myanmar president arrives in Malaysia, repatriation among key issues

OSLO (Oct 7): Norway's minority Labour Party government said on Wednesday that it plans to raise its spending level in 2027 from the country's US$2.3 trillion sovereign wealth fund to help cover public expenses.

Norway plans to spend US$63.6 bil from wealth fund in 2027

BENGALURU (Oct 7): HSBC is planning sweeping job cuts across its UK wealth management business, including a sharp reduction in financial advisers and specialist staff, as part of a broader push to integrate AI, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

HSBC plans job cuts across UK wealth business in AI push, FT reports

ARTELIA helps to honour the best of Corp Malaysia

BENGALURU/LONDON (Oct 7): Shell expects third-quarter refining margins to jump to US$42 a barrel, a record high and sharply above US$24 a barrel in the previous quarter, the oil major said on Wednesday.

Shell sees refining margins hitting record high in third quarter

ACCESS to Arm’s Compute Subsystem (CSS) would lower the technological barrier for Oppstar Bhd (KL:OPPSTAR) to develop an advanced chip.

But an Arm token is not an instant earnings booster, Oppstar’s senior executives acknowledge in an interview with The Edge.

Its chief operati...

Arm CSS gives Oppstar a head start, not a shortcut to earnings

From design to the finished device, a chip goes through four main stages. Global giants dominate each stage, but Bursa Malaysia–listed companies are strongest in assembly and test, and in the equipment, machined parts and automation segments that the entire chain depends on.

Where Malaysian players sit in the semiconductor value chain

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB), Malaysia’s second-largest lender by assets, fell to its lowest in three months as banking stocks fell amid persistent concerns over rising bond yields.

Malaysian banking stocks fall as JP Morgan downgrades CIMB, AMMB

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to tackle rising living costs in potentially his government’s last budget before he calls national elections.

Anwar set to boost budget spending as election speculation grows

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Glove stocks were among Wednesday's most actively traded counters, led by Top Glove Corp Bhd (KL:TOPGLOV), though analysts cautioned the world's largest glove maker's strong finish to its financial year ended Aug 31, 2026 (FY2026) may not signal a sustained recovery.

Top Glove leads glove stocks higher on strong results, but analysts doubt recovery holds

The former Negeri Sembilan Undangs' court case linked to the ongoing power tussle in the state will now be battled out solely in the Seremban High Court.

Undangs withdraw case in KL, legal bid in Seremban remains

Worsening air pollution driven by wildfires in Indonesia prompted Malaysia to temporarily shut schools in one of its most populated states, just as a major Formula One race in neighbouring Singapore approaches.

Wildfire haze shuts Malaysia schools and looms over Singapore F1

Billionaire Ray Dalio warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is a “classic bubble” that is nearing a bursting point thanks to rising interest rates and the need to turn wealth into cash.

Ray Dalio says we’re nearing point where AI bubble may burst

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Apex Securities expects volatility to remain elevated in the fourth quarter for equities, citing higher oil prices, persistent geopolitical risks in the Middle East and interest rates staying higher for longer.

Volatility to stay elevated into 4Q for equities; Budget 2027 seen as stock-picking play — Apex Securities

The appeal records in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) criminal case are still not ready.

1MDB-Tanore: Appeal records not ready

PERTH/SINGAPORE (Oct 7): Oil prices climbed on Wednesday as the market weighed supply constraints from a storm heading for US oil-producing regions and attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia against increased supplies of Middle East crude.

Oil gains as US storm and Houthi air strikes threaten supply

HI Mobility Bhd (KL:HI) is now attractive, said CGS International&nbsp;as it undervalues&nbsp;the bus operator’s growth story following the stock’s recent decline.

HI Mobility now undervalued after recent decline, says CGS International as it starts coverage with 'buy'

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Tax collection in Malaysia rose to RM129.6 billion in the first half of 2026 from RM119.1 billion a year earlier, supported by higher corporate income tax and sales and service tax (SST) receipts, the Dewan Rakyat heard on Wednesday.

Higher corporate tax, SST receipts lift first-half collection to RM129.6 bil, Dewan Rakyat told

FTSE Russell has reaffirmed the emerging-market status of Indonesian equities amid measures taken by local authorities to improve transparency.&nbsp;

FTSE affirms Indonesia’s emerging status on ongoing reforms

The 16th Melaka election will be held on Nov 14, the Election Commission (EC) announced after a special meeting on Wednesday.

Melaka polls on Nov 14

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Composite Index extended its downward trend on Wednesday, falling to an 11-month low as persistent foreign selling and cautious sentiment amid elevated oil prices continued to weigh on the local market.

FBM KLCI slides to nearly a year low as foreign selling, high oil prices weigh on sentiment

When you are in your 60s, a visit to the physio is almost a must. The neck and shoulders stiffen, and so do the glutes. To relieve the nagging pain and loosen the tight muscles, I go to Your Physio in SS15, Subang Jaya.

My regular physio is Akil, and I like him because he explains what ...

My Say: The worth of a degree

TUN Dr Hasmah Mohd Ali, one of Malaya’s earliest Malay women doctors and a pioneering public health physician who would spend decades at the centre of Malaysian public life, died on Sept 28 at the age of 100.

Malaysians knew her as Siti Hasmah, though she said in a 2024 podcast intervie...

TRIBUTE | Tun Dr Hasmah — a trailblazer in women’s healthcare and community welfare

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): The 10 Negeri Sembilan executive councilors have filed an originating summons (OS) at the Seremban High Court to challenge the revocation of their appointments, which took effect on Sept 20.

All deposed N9 excos file suit challenging their expulsion

The KLIA aerotrain will undergo a scheduled software upgrade to strengthen its operational robustness and long-term performance following the completion of 20,000 continuous operational hours.

Amarjeet Singh

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

Amarjeet Singh

‌‌

‌‌

‌‌

‌‌

‌‌

‌‌

‌‌

‌‌

‌‌

‌‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌

‌
‌