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

Members of the administration have been urged to arrive early for Dewan Rakyat sittings instead of waiting for their turn to speak, ensuring smooth proceedings and avoiding absences that reflect poorly on the House.

Johari lashes out at administrative members over Dewan Rakyat absences, skipped questions

Gold prices hit a more than two-week high on Thursday as US dollar and Treasury yields weakened after lower oil prices eased inflation concerns, while investors awaited key US payrolls data for rate policy clues.

Gold at over two-week high as dollar, yields weaken; US payrolls data awaited

MRT Corp has awarded a RM2.69 billion contract to a joint venture comprising China Communications Construction Company, TRC Construction and Ufuk Semarak for the construction of the Penang LRT Mutiara Line's cross-sea extension linking Penang Island to the mainland.

MRT Corp awards RM2.69 bil contract for Penang LRT cross-sea extension

Apple Inc is planning to raise about US$7 billion (RM28.33 billion) from its first investment-grade bond offering in more than a year to help fund share buybacks, adding to a flurry of debt issuance by US technology heavyweights.

Apple seeks about US$7 bil from first bond sale in over a year — Bloomberg

Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Apollo Global Management Inc are in talks with Wall Street investors to start selling portions of a roughly US$40 billion (RM162.55 billion) chip financing deal for SpaceX, just as the artificial intelligence (AI) boom braces for upheaval following a sweeping Democratic victory.

Goldman, Apollo in talks to sell SpaceX’s US$40 bil AI deal — Bloomberg

Garment workers staged fresh protests in Bangladesh on Thursday, forcing factories to suspend operations despite a wage board move to introduce a revised pay structure from December.

Bangladesh garment protests continue despite wage board move

Brent crude futures rose nearly US$3 on Thursday as investors weighed the future course of the US-Israeli war with Iran after US President Donald Trump's Republican Party suffered heavy losses in midterm elections this week.

Oil rises as investors weigh uncertainties around Iran war

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment slipped to a 57-year last week as lay-offs remained low against the backdrop of a resilient labour market.

US weekly jobless claims at 57-year lows amid low lay-offs

US labour productivity accelerated in the third quarter (3Q) at the fastest pace in a year, suggesting a capital spending boom is translating into greater efficiency at a time when input costs have soared.

US labour productivity increases at fastest pace in a year

The Bank of England (BOE) raised interest rates for the first time in over three years on Thursday and warned that at least one more increase was likely if the US-Iran conflict continues, as it started on a path that its main peers have already embarked on.

Bank of England raises rates for first time since 2023, warns another move likely

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Summary

<ul>
	<li>The company started as MyEG Services Bhd, providing an e-payment gateway for government departments. It was a shining star until Ma...

Cover Story: How T S Wong lost Zetrix AI’s tech narrative

Embattled Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) has launched a digital identity service for artificial intelligence (AI) agents in partnership with China's Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), as it seeks to commercialise its AI-related investments following RM3.7 billion in development spending.

Embattled Zetrix AI launches AI agent identity service after RM3.7 bil development spending

Sunway Construction Group Bhd (KL:SUNCON) announced that it has won a RM1.74 billion contract to build a hyperscale data centre in Bandar Serendah, Selangor.

Sunway Construction wins RM1.74 bil contract to build another data centre in Selangor

Malaysia’s central bank stood pat again on Thursday as most expected, holding that the current benchmark interest rate matches its outlook on inflation and growth.

Bank Negara Malaysia holds policy rate steady

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has been called upon to clarify Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain's transfer back to the police force.

Lawyer urges home minister to clarify Shuhaily's transfer back to PDRM

IN 2017, Wong Thean Soon debuted at 33 on Forbes’ list of Malaysia’s richest with a net worth of US$330 million, based on his shareholdings in My E.G. Services Bhd, since renamed Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX).

Forbes said of Wong and Zetrix AI back then, “In 2000, he launched MyEG Services ...

Cover Story: What’s left in Zetrix AI?

MBSB Research has valued Main Market-bound Big Caring Group Bhd at RM1.20 a share, an 11.1% premium to its initial public offering (IPO) retail price of RM1.08, as it expects the pharmacy chain to deliver stronger earnings growth than its retail peers.

MBSB Research values Big Caring at 11% premium to IPO price, citing faster growth than retail peers

A consortium including the founding family of Yinson Holdings Bhd (KL:YINSON) is considering sweetening its bid to take the Kuala Lumpur-listed energy infrastructure company private, according to people familiar with the matter.&nbsp;

Consortium led by founding Lim family mulls higher offer to privatise Yinson — Bloomberg

Tanco Holdings Bhd's (KL:TANCO) joint venture with a unit of China Nuclear Industry Huaxing Construction Co Ltd has secured a RM700 million contract to build an industrial warehouse complex in Klang, Selangor.

Tanco-China builder JV bags RM700m warehouse contract in Klang

Japanese retail chain Daiso Malaysia Group Sdn Bhd has officially opened its RM1.2 billion Global Distribution Centre (GDC) at Taman Perindustrian Samudera, Pulau Indah, reinforcing Malaysia’s positioning as a premier regional supply chain and logistics hub.

Japan's Daiso opens its largest ever logistics hub in Pulau Indah

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 5): The Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) is suing political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin (also known as Chegubard) regarding the dissemination of statements allegedly defaming RAC and the Rolling Stock Strategy (RSS) initiative. &nbsp;

Railway Assets Corp takes legal action against Chegubard over alleged defamatory claims

ZETRIX AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) has become a rudderless ship given its highly fragmented shareholding structure.

Beyond the forced sell-down of its shares held by its managing director Wong Thean Soon, several other shareholders have sold down their holdings, according to the latest sharehold...

Cover Story: Rudderless, with no clear controlling shareholder

Lawyers for Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom have indicated that they will be filling several applications including a challenge to the charges against the former minister in charge of Islamic affairs.

Jamil Khir's lawyer indicates filing of several applications, including challenge to Tabung Haji charges

ViTrox Corporation Bhd (KL:VITROX) is upbeat after the semiconductor equipment maker posted its best quarter since listing in 2005, as higher volume drove down unit costs.

ViTrox posts best quarter since listing as volume surges, sees bright outlook

SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) reported a 17% decline in third-quarter earnings though the world’s largest palm oil producer by acreage is still confident of ending the year strong.

SD Guthrie reports 17% drop in 3Q earnings, says still on track for strong year

Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is working to settle his suit with the prime minister and the government over the withheld parliamentary allocation for his constituency.

Syed Saddiq to settle suit against govt over withheld Muar allocation

KLANG (Nov 5): Malaysia is rapidly expanding its transport infrastructure across land, sea and air as it seeks to establish itself as a world-class logistics hub, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

PM: Malaysia expanding transport infrastructure to become world-class logistics hub

Any pullback in technology stocks following the US midterm elections could present a buying opportunity, said BIMB Securities, which expects long-term demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure to persist.

BIMB says buy the dip in Malaysian tech stocks as AI demand remains intact

SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) has called on the government to consider temporarily waiving the crude palm oil (CPO) export duty as a measure to resolve the ongoing supply glut.

SD Guthrie calls for export duty waiver to resolve palm oil supply glut

The two lower-ranking police officers whom Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain allegedly assaulted in a viral CCTV footage are suing the Border Control chief for assault and battery.

Budget 2021

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