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

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate annoucements that made the headlines on Thursday:

SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) has resolved its five-year legal dispute with the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) involving the compulsory acquisition of...

SD Guthrie, DNeX, Batu Kawan, MKH, MISC, Exsim Hospitality, GDB, Cyberjaya Education, Life Water, MTAG, UWC & Al-‘Aqar Healthcare REIT

Emotions ran high in the Coroner’s Court here on Thursday as the cheerful voice of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, speaking affectionately to her mother, echoed through the courtroom during the inquest into the Form One student’s death.

Mother chokes up as Zara Qairina’s ‘voice’ fills courtroom during inquest

The US government is suspending Microsoft, Adobe and several large IT firms from a programme that allows skilled foreign workers to gain permanent residency, senior US officials announced on Thursday, citing alleged fraud, and as part of an effort to push companies to hire more Americans.

US suspends Microsoft, major IT firms from key green card programme

Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) has proposed reinstating rebates on interest or profit rates, as well as financial support for solar projects, under the upcoming Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS) 6.0 for Budget 2027.

MGTC proposes rebate and financial support for solar for Budget 2027

All educational institutions under the Education Ministry (MOE) in areas recording air pollutant index (API) readings above 180, based on Department of Environment (DOE) readings, must be closed from Friday, Oct 9, amid the haze currently affecting the country.

Education minister announces school closures in four states, KL, Putrajaya and Rompin due to haze 

Fitters Diversified Bhd (KL:FITTERS) is proposing to sell its wholly-owned palm oil unit to raise cash for redeployment into other core divisions.

Fitters Diversified eyes sale of palm oil unit to redeploy funds into core businesses

American Airlines Group Inc plans to extend Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to more than 1,000 mainline aircraft, as US carriers compete to offer faster in-flight WiFi.

American Airlines to expand Starlink WiFi across entire fleet

OpenAI opened ChatGPT advertising to Malaysian businesses on Sept 23, signalling a new channel for reaching customers. But with policies generally prohibiting financial services ads outside the US, local financial services providers are largely locked out of buying visibility.

Commentary: Who wins when customers turn to AI search?

Asian countries are racing to raise their oil stockpiling capacity, complete a regional power grid and speed up renewables in response to supply risks laid bare by the Iran war.

Asia races to stockpile oil, speed up renewables in response to Iran war

US wholesale inventories increased less than initially thought in August as strong demand boosted sales, government data showed on Thursday.

US August wholesale inventories revised lower

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Former Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has taken the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to court for allegedly unilaterally cancelling a prior agreement over the settled payment of over RM4 million in taxes and penalties.

Azeez takes IRB to court for allegedly cancelling agreement over RM4m taxes and penalties paid; AGC says he is acting on presumption

Reddish skies and thick haze have shrouded parts of Indonesia’s Kalimantan as forest and land fires sent air quality plunging to very unhealthy and hazardous levels.

Red skies, thick haze shroud Kalimantan as Indonesia records 1,176 hotspots

Sepang Umno division chief Datuk Noorazli Said was charged in the Magistrate's Court here on Thursday with uttering words that hurt the feelings of Christians during a speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly last month.

Sepang Umno chief charged with hurting Christians' feelings

The King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has called for students' safety and health to be prioritised amid the haze affecting the country.

King decrees priority for student safety, calls for school closure amid worsening haze

Dagang NeXchange Bhd (KL:DNEX) has reached a global settlement with its Chinese partner Tethystronics Technologies Co Ltd (TTCL) over disputes involving semiconductor foundry SilTerra Malaysia Sdn Bhd, paving the way for a RM100 million investment in DNeX’s semiconductor holding company.&nbsp;

DNeX settles with partner Tethystronics over SilTerra dispute

All educational institutions under the Education Ministry (MOE) in areas recording air pollutant index (API) readings above 180, based on Department of Environment (DOE) readings, must be closed from Friday, Oct 9, amid the haze currently affecting the country.

SoftBank Group Corp, Grab Holdings Ltd, and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) have entered into a framework agreement to explore developing an artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure platform in Sarawak.

SoftBank, Grab and Petros ink pact to explore development of AI and ecosystem infrastructure in Sarawak

Myanmar is prepared to facilitate the repatriation of its nationals on a large scale, with the country ready to bear the associated costs, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday.

Myanmar to accept repatriation of nationals in large numbers at own expense, says Anwar

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) successfully returned RM1.98 million to 239 investors in 2025 through enforcement action against violations of capital market laws.

Amir Hamzah: RM1.98 mil returned to 239 investors in 2025 as SC strengthened enforcement

Lion Industries Corp Bhd (KL:LIONIND) said on Thursday its independent auditor has issued an unqualified audit opinion with a material uncertainty related to the group’s ability as a going concern.

Auditor flags uncertainty on Lion Industries' ability to continue as going concern

Datuk Seri Awang Adek Hussin will step down as chairman of Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) at the end of his term at the development financial institution.

Awang Adek to step down as BSN chairman, Bank Islam’s former head to take over

Major banks in Southeast Asia declined more than 1% on Thursday, with the region's top lender, DBS Group, dragging Singapore stocks more than 3% lower as rising bond yields brought into focus risks to bank earnings growth and funding costs.

Bank sell-off casts pall in Southeast Asia, Singapore stocks drop 3%

theedgemalaysia.com highlighted two stocks with positive momentum and five stocks with negative momentum at Bursa Malaysia’s afternoon close on Thursday.

Stocks with momentum on Oct 8, 2026: Aemulus, Southern Score, Binastra, Censof, FM Global, Greentronics & Hartanah Kenyalang

Life Water Bhd (KL:LWSABAH) is acquiring an industrial property in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for RM15 million to accommodate its business expansion.

Life Water buys industrial property in Sabah for RM15m

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Malaysia has made significant early headway in its energy transition journey, having reached a 33% renewable energy (RE) capacity mix by mid-2026, placing the nation comfortably within reach of its 35% target by 2030 and its ultimate goal of 
70% by 2050.

Grid upgrades, green sukuk and bankability key to next phase of energy transition

IN the past few years, “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) gave shoppers a quick and easy route to credit. But the days when just about anyone could get instant approval are over.

Since June this year, BNPL service providers are required to conduct affordability assessments for credit extended ...

Cover Story 2: Credit under watch

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd chairman Joe Tsai said open-source artificial intelligence (AI) is Europe’s best route to technological independence from the US and China, and urged the region to build out its own computing infrastructure to train and run AI models.

Alibaba chairman says open source is Europe’s best shot at AI

The government is confident of achieving its target of raising workers’ compensation to 40% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, in line with the aspirations of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah said.

Govt confident of raising workers' compensation to 40% of GDP by 2030, Dewan Rakyat hears

THE rapid growth in the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) space in Malaysia is an indication of its fast-growing popularity among consumers in the country.

Based on data furnished by the Consumer Credit Commission (CCC), the total number of BNPL transactions made during the first half of the ...

Cover Story 2: Malaysia’s BNPL industry gets guard rails as outstanding balance reaches RM6.6 bil

Malaysian&nbsp;ports must accelerate&nbsp;decarbonisation efforts to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) requirement to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

Budget 2019

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