The opposition failed in its attempt to thwart Budget 2021 as it was passed in the final approval stage in the Dewan Rakyat today via an en bloc vote.

The vote ended with 111 Members of Parliament (MPs) in favour and 108 MPs against the passing of the budget.

Budget 2021 passed in Dewan Rakyat despite opposition's last-ditch efforts to stymie bill

Budget 2021 was formulated with a balancing act in mind, a treasury official said today, adding that it is important for the government to spend on development expenditure to stimulate new growth in the country.

Budget 2021 formulated with balancing act in mind — MoF

The crucial vote on Budget 2021 is scheduled for today in the Dewan Rakyat amid uncertainty as to whether it will garner sufficient support from lawmakers.

Several MPs have threatened to withhold support for the Budget unless their concerns are addressed. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Pejuang-Langkawi), for one, has said that he and “his friends” have decided to reject the Budget

Parliament to decide on the National Budget today

As for now, the schedule for the crucial Budget 2021 vote set for tomorrow is on track, according to a source familiar with the matter.

“Ministers have also been reminded to stick to their 20-minute allocation and not exceed it — as what happened on Monday and Tuesday. Questions that can’t be answered due to time constraints will be answered in writing,” a government source familiar with the scheduled budget vote told The Edge, adding that at present, the budget voting is still “confirmed” for tomorrow as scheduled.

Schedule for budget voting on track — source

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah will not be participating in the Budget 2021 debate as long as the legitimacy of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Cabinet is not tested.

Ku Li to abstain from Budget 2021 debate as long as no-confidence motion not allowed

Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal today criticised the government’s controversial decision to allocate RM85.5 million to the Department of Special Affairs (Jasa) during the Covid-19 pandemic, calling it unnecessary.

Following a growing number of lawmakers who have voiced their dissatisfaction at this move, Shafie echoed their calls to use the RM85.5 million in combating Covid-19.

Shafie joins growing list of politicians questioning RM86m allocation for Jasa

While the Budget 2021 has been touted to be the largest budget in Malaysia, four associations have jointly urged the government to revise the national budget to provide “sustainable and meaningful” assistance.

The four associations are Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), SME Association of Malaysia, Bumiputra Retailers Organization and Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK).

SME, retail and mall associations urge govt for more aid in Budget 2021

The V-shaped recovery that has been attained at this point will be derailed if Budget 2021 is not passed by Parliament, according to EMIR Research.

V-shaped recovery will be derailed if Budget 2021 not passed — EMIR Research

Construction companies are set to benefit greatly from the projects and expenditure outlined in Budget 2021, with the Mass Rapid Transit 3 and the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail viewed as being big opportunities.

Builders the key beneficiaries of Budget 2021, but little interest seen

The recently tabled Budget 2021 was "supersized but spread too thin", said Affin Hwang Capital Research, noting that the measures announced were not sufficient to assist the sectors that are badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Budget 2021 has something for everyone but ‘spread too thin’, says Affin Hwang

Pejuang says the government had used Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s decree as a “blank cheque” to propose a Budget which is populist and does not take into account the interests of the people.

Pejuang: Budget 2021 populist, does not take into account public interest

Human capital management solution provider RAMSSOL Group said employee engagement is key in digital transformation.

Employee engagement key in digital transformation, says RAMSSOL

BIMB Holdings Bhd's Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd has welcomed the enhancement made to the targeted repayment assistance in Budget 2021, saying that the measure addresses the difficulties of most vulnerable groups and provides an opportunity for them to recover from the economic shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bank Islam welcomes enhancement to targeted repayment assistance

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has refuted allegations that the government has drastically reduced its public health allocation in Budget 2021.

Tengku Zafrul refutes allegations of reduction in public health allocation in Budget 2021

Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, The Athletic and The Times reported on Friday.

Man City found guilty on all but one of 115 charges, reports say

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

Vantris, Teck Guan, Willowglen, TSH Resources, Yinson, MISC, Favelle Favco, Kinergy, Kawan Renergy, EWI Capital, Taghill 

Wall Street's main indices inched higher on Friday as AI optimism buoyed sentiment despite elevated oil prices and rising Treasury yields, while investors watched efforts to secure a deal to end the Middle East conflict.

Wall Street edges up as AI enthusiasm eases worries over higher oil prices, yields

US consumer sentiment fell in September to a four-month low amid deepening worries about rising prices and the outlook for the economy.

US consumer sentiment falls on concerns about prices, economy

The United States is expected to release details on the outcome of trade negotiations with China on Monday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Friday.

Details on US, China trade talks to come on Monday, says Greer

Construction firm Taghill Holdings Bhd (KL:TAGHILL) signed a joint-venture agreement on Friday to develop a residential project on a Malay reservation land in Kelantan, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM191.7 million.

Taghill enters joint venture to develop Kelantan land with estimated RM192 mil GDV

Indonesia will establish a National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) to strengthen efforts to prevent recurring forest and land fires, particularly in peatland areas.

Indonesia to establish new agency to curb wildfires 

Roofing and building material products manufacturer and supplier Astino Bhd's (KL:ASTINO) net profit rose 17.8% in the fourth quarter, helped by a higher-margin export sales mix, despite lower revenue.

Astino 4Q profit rises 17.8% on stronger export sales 

Touch ’n Go Group has called for stronger collaboration among mobility, financial services, technology and regulatory sectors to strengthen the resilience of services that Malaysians rely on to travel, make payments and access digital financial services.

TNG Group calls for stronger cross-sector collaboration to safeguard mobility, payment resilience

Microsoft Corp is merging the consumer and workplace versions of its Copilot artificial intelligence (AI) assistant into one product aimed at corporate customers, ceding the crowded market for personal chatbots to OpenAI, Alphabet Inc’s Google and, now, Meta Platforms Inc.

Microsoft abandons personal AI chatbot race with Copilot reboot

Imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak does not have the RM50 million to secure his house arrest, said his lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Najib has no money to pay RM50 mil fine, says lawyer

Vantris Energy Bhd (KL:VANTNRG) said its unit has secured two offshore transportation and installation work orders with a combined value of about RM1.8 billion.

Vantris Energy unit secures RM1.8b offshore work orders

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 25): Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s venture capital fund-of-funds, Jelawang Capital Sdn Bhd, has appointed Howard Soh as CEO, effective Oct 1.

Soh’s appointment comes about 15 months after former CEO Bryan Lim left Jelawang and its parent, Khazanah, at the end of June 2025, ...

Jelawang Capital appoints new CEO Howard Soh after long vacancy

Northern Solar Holdings Bhd (KL:NORTHERN) extended its rally to a new record on Friday after an analyst flagged earnings jump ahead for the renewable energy company.

Northern Solar hits new all-time high as winning streak continues

Lembaga Tabung Haji's former chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani has claimed trial to another charge, this time for allegedly accepting RM8,882.77 in renovation costs for a house in 2017.

Tabung Haji ex-COO in court again, charged with accepting over RM8k for house renovations

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will issue notices to former human resources minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan, his wife and their three children to declare their assets within a month.

Ex-HR minister Saravanan, family ordered to declare assets within a month

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 25): Teck Guan Perdana Bhd (KL:TECGUAN) saw its net profit more than triple in the second quarter, driven by higher operating margins in its palm oil products segment.

Teck Guan Perdana’s 2Q net profit more than triples on stronger palm oil margins

A pardon, reprieve or respite may be granted under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution following conviction. Neither a pardon, a reprieve, nor a respite, constitutes an exoneration of guilt or removal of wrongdoing. They do not “wipe the slate clean” of the prior conviction.

Opinion: Malaysian Bar to challenge Najib's second pardon

Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) is targeting RM15 billion in green and transition asset investments and RM500 million in impactful social investments by 2030 under its newly unveiled Sustainability Framework 2026 (SF 2026).

PNB unveils 2026 sustainability framework, targeting RM15b investment in green and transition assets

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 25): Despite the announcement of imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's conditional pardon last week, the 73-year-old has yet to receive the official pardon letter from the King.

Najib has yet to receive official pardon letter from the King, lawyer says

Two individuals being investigated over alleged misappropriation involving the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) project linked to Felda will be charged next week, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said.

Two former top Felda officials to face charges over KLVC case — MACC

theedgemalaysia.com highlighted two stocks with positive momentum and six stocks with negative momentum at Bursa Malaysia's afternoon close on Friday.

Stocks with momentum on Sept 25, 2026: Wegmans, Northern Solar, Samaiden, Southern Cable, Verdant Solar, Cypark, Eita Resources, Iconic Worldwide

A witness told the Sessions Court on Friday that she had seen the contents of an email including operational and financial performance reports for the first quarter of 2024 sent by former PETRONAS manager Mohd Khairul Akmal to two senior officials of Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros).

Ex-PETRONAS manager leaked confidential information, spoke of wish to join Petros in email, court told

Sarawak Plantation Bhd (KL:SWKPLNT) is a standout dividend play, with maturing estates driving above-industry production growth and its Sarawak-only operations shielding it from Indonesian regulatory risks, according to BIMB Securities.

Sarawak Plantation stands out as dividend play with maturing estates, Sarawak-only ops — BIMB

A massive RM120 billion war chest was promised under the Ministry of Finance’s Government-Linked Enterprises Activation and Reform Programme (GEAR-uP) to transform Malaysian businesses. Yet the companies that actually power the economy have not seen a dime.

Opinion: Why RM120b isn’t reaching Malaysia’s engine room

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) is examining mechanisms to draft specific legislation addressing the issue of transboundary haze, including considering the approach implemented by Singapore.

Malaysia mulls special act for transboundary haze

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has completed its investigation into the delayed supply of fertilisers in Kedah, with two individuals set to be charged soon in connection with the case.

Fertiliser supply issue: Two to face charges soon, says MACC

Yinson Holdings Bhd (KL:YINSON) and MISC Bhd (KL:MISC) said discussions on Yinson's potential privatisation are ongoing, with the indicative offer price maintained at RM2.35 per share.

Yinson privatisation talks ongoing, RM2.35 indicative offer unchanged

US and Iranian negotiators are exploring a phased deal that would see Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lift its blockade of Iranian ports, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

US, Iran said to be exploring phased deal to reopen Hormuz

HSBC Holdings plc is cutting a perk worth up to HK$200,000 (US$25,500 or RM103,973) that subsidised some private club access for its Hong Kong bankers, part of a broader restructuring of employee benefits in the Asian financial hub.

Budget 2021

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