Budget 2020 is not able to stimulate the Malaysia economy next year as it does not feature any tax relief while the cost of living is expected to continue rising, said former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Budget 2020 is not enough to stimulate the economy, not even materialising their promises. Our plan in the past was to reduce income tax gradually, especially for the middle-income group, and reduce corporate tax, because our corporate tax is higher than Singapore's,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby today.

Budget 2020 not able to stimulate economy, Najib says

PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) said the Budget 2019 has identified key priorities to support the transition of the Malaysian economy towards a more balanced, sustainable and inclusive growth.

In a press release issued today, it said technology has encoura...

SC supports use of tech such as property crowdfunding platforms in driving economy

PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): It would make more sense for the government to increase the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) rates within the first five years instead of imposing a 5% tax rate for Malaysian individuals after the fifth year, said the Association of Valuers, Property Managers, Estate Agents a...

Increase RPGT rates within first 5 years would make more sense, says PEPS

PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): The National House Buyers Association (HBA) has urged the government to take measures to slow down escalating property prices by raising the supply of homes in the affordable housing segment through  government-linked corporations, state economic agencies and  bod...

HBA urges measures to slow down property price growth

PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) senior fellow Dr Carmelo Ferlito has applauded the commitment made by the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) to reduce house prices by 10% for new projects that are not subject to price c...

IDEAS applauds REHDA’s commitment to lower house prices by 10%

PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): The Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) has described Budget 2019 as a budget with “more answers than questions”.

“At first glance, I feel Budget 2019 is very different from the previous one as it has more answers than questions. The budget has a very clea...

A budget with 'more answers than questions', says MIEA

PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): Kenanga Head of Equity Research Sarah Lim (pictured) said it will be interesting to know how the current government will monitor the selling prices of new houses.

She was commenting on the Budget 2019 announcement that states the Real Estate and Housing Developers...

How will govt monitor new home prices, asks Kenanga

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The absence of an excise duty hike in Budget 2019 comes as a relief to brewers like Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd today.

That's because a further hike in excise duties, if any, will lead to a dramatic increase in contraband beers, which already account for approxi...

Carlsberg breathes sigh of relief on no excise duty hike

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): United Oversea Bank (Malaysia) Bhd (UOB) views Malaysia’s higher headline fiscal trajectory as outlined in Budget 2019 as temporary, although it is concerned about execution risks and revenue uncertainties.

“Despite higher fiscal targets, we see it as a temporary d...

Higher fiscal deficit targets seen as temporary

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The Government will use some RM30 billion in special dividends from  Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) to partly repay RM37 billion worth of outstanding GST and income tax refunds, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim has said back in September that the Gov...

Mixed views on taxes refund resolution via Petronas’ cash dividends

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Following the Government’s guidance of a wider fiscal deficit in 2018 than targeted by the previous administration, rating agencies have voiced concerns over the level of Malaysia’s national debts.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, in presenting Budget 2019 today, ann...

Rating agencies raise concern over widened fiscal deficit in 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Organisations may not have enough time to implement the new minimum wage by the new year, says recruitment specialist Kelly Services.

“While employees will be celebrating increase in minimum wages from RM1,050 to RM1,100, we are concerned about the impact of this s...

'Short notice for new minimum wage may be problematic for employers'

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF) said the initiatives announced in Budget 2019 to assist the Bottom 40% (B40) income earners and measures to improve the well-being of Malaysians will be positive towards reducing the income gap between the rich and the poor...

Budget 2019 measures will help narrow income gap, says MIDF

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Budget 2019 is likely to improve Malaysia’s social protection system as it balances long-term imperatives with short term economic needs, according to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). 

Notable initiatives under the budget include a reduction in the statuto...

EPF: Budget 2019 improves Malaysia’s social protection

JOHOR BAHRU (Jan 18): The post-pandemic tourism in Asean must focus not only on recovery but also on transitioning to a sustainable, quality-driven business model, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah: Post-pandemic tourism in Asean should adopt sustainable, quality-driven business model

LONDON (Jan 18): Malaysia can expect an increase in investment and trade with the United Kingdom (UK), as both countries will have a free trade agreement for the first time through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Zafrul: Increase in investment, trade with UK amid CPTPP

JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Jan 19): A ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is set to come into effect on Sunday morning with a hostage release to follow hours later, opening the way to a possible end to a 15-month war that has upended the Middle East.

Gaza ceasefire and hostage release set to begin

Titling your autobiography The Most Famous Woman in China immediately tells your audience being “shy” and “retiring” are not part of your lexicon — a fact for which Yue-Sai Kan is completely unapologetic. At 77, in good health and still looking like a million bucks, the Emmy-winning TV host, producer and entrepreneur is, to borrow the popular Gen Z phrase, living her best life.

Middle Kingdom Maven

Owing to the increase in demand for commercial spaces at IJM Rimbayu in Kuala Langat, IJM Land Bhd is set to launch ROAM, a 5.56-acre commercial project offering four blocks of strata shops and offices, next month.

Growing a self-sustaining township

All parties to Israel-Hamas war have agreed that the Gaza ceasefire will take effect at 8.30am local time on Sunday, a few hours earlier than had been anticipated, Qatar announced.

Gaza ceasefire to start on Sunday morning following Israeli approval

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on Saturday to argue against a request for his detention to be extended after his arrest earlier this week.

Impeached S Korean president Yoon defends himself in court against longer detention

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will hold talks with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to enable the mobile application for the selling and buying of used motorcycles to be integrated with the mySIKAP system for simpler, faster and safer transactions.

MOT, JPJ to discuss integrating app for buying and selling used motorcycles with mySIKAP

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained four more individuals suspected of accepting bribes in return for assisting in processing and approving personal loan applications submitted by a financial consultancy firm.

MACC arrests four more suspects over loan bribery scandal

Phase 3 of the e-invoicing initiative has received over 4,900 early voluntary participants, according to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

In a statement on Saturday, the IRB noted that the e-invoicing implementation had now entered the second phase and shown a promising increase in participation.

Over 4,900 early voluntary participants in Phase 3 of e-invoicing, says IRB

Owing to the increase in demand for commercial spaces at IJM Rimbayu in Kuala Langat, IJM Land Bhd is set to launch ROAM, a 5.56-acre commercial project offering four blocks of strata shops and offices, next month.&nbsp;

Titling your autobiography The Most Famous Woman in China immediately tells your audience being “shy” and “retiring” are not part of your lexicon — a fact for which Yue-Sai Kan is completely unapologetic. At 77, in good health and still looking like a million bucks, the Emmy-winning TV host, producer and entrepreneur is, to borrow the popular Gen Z phrase, living her best life.&nbsp;

JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Jan 19): A&nbsp;ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is set to come into effect on Sunday morning with a hostage release to follow hours later, opening the way to a possible end to a 15-month war that has upended the Middle East.

LONDON (Jan 18): Malaysia can expect an increase in investment and trade with the United Kingdom (UK), as both countries will have a free trade agreement for the first time through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

JOHOR BAHRU (Jan 18): The post-pandemic tourism in Asean must focus not only on recovery but also on transitioning to a sustainable, quality-driven business model, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Budget 2019

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