Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC) is expecting higher allocations in development expenditure (DE) and operating expenditure (opex) in the upcoming Budget 2021, although these allocations, as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), are expected to be lower at 4% and 18.7% respectively.

In a statement, the ratings agency said the budget balance should also moderate to between -5.5% and -5% of GDP, supported by the economic recovery as well as the fact that fiscal policy had done most of the heavy lifting in 2020. Meanwhile, debt should come in at between 55% and 58% of GDP.

MARC: Higher development expenditure, opex allocations in Budget 2021 expected

Grants and loans, support for marketing and promotion as well as job creation are the top three priorities on the Malaysian creative industries’ wishlist for the upcoming Budget 2021.

Creative industries seek continuation of govt grants in Budget 2021, says poll

The Association of Valuers, Property Managers, Estate Agents and Property Consultants in the Private Sector Malaysia (PEPS) has proposed that the government waive the real property gains tax (RPGT) across all property sectors involving transactions of less than RM10 million in 2021 to stimulate the property market.

Budget 2021: Waive RPGT on all properties below RM10m — PEPS

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said Budget 2021 is not the usual scheme as announced in previous years because the budget this time involves a combination of solutions to support citizens’ livelihoods and the country’s economic growth as it fights against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Budget 2021 unusual as Malaysia bucks economic theory amid Covid-19, says Tengku Zafrul

A windfall tax being imposed on the glove sector in Malaysia will be difficult to execute, opined CGS-CIMB Research, adding that should this materialise in the upcoming Budget 2021, it would likely be a one-off collection or payment to the government.

Difficult to execute windfall tax on glove players, likely a one-off payment to govt, says CGS-CIMB

The government can further encourage companies and institutions to tap into sustainable financing under the upcoming Budget 2021 that will be tabled this Friday (Nov 6), according to Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB).

Govt should encourage more corporate players to tap into sustainable financing, says Maybank IB

Mobile food delivery marketplace foodpanda Malaysia is hoping to see digital tax waiver and gig economy worker benefits in the upcoming Budget 2021.

In a statement today, foodpanda Malaysia managing director Sayantan Das said elimination of digital taxes for 2021 would encourage consumer spending online and enable companies to reinvest in Malaysia.

foodpanda hopes to see digital tax waiver, gig economy worker benefits in Budget 2021

Last week, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for the government to work with the opposition to develop a bipartisan national budget to address the Covid-19 pandemic. If it materialises, it will be the first such budget in Malaysia’s history.

Should it be done? How will it work?

A bipartisan budget and the factors to consider

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to set aside their political differences and ensure Budget 2021, set to be tabled on Nov 6, is passed, saying the well-being of Malaysians should be put first in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

PM urges MPs to put aside political differences, ensure Budget 2021 is passed

Malaysia needs to deliver a more impactful social aid system, given that success in preventing long-term damage of the COVID-19 pandemic to the lives of the children in low-income families “depends on the quality of social policy responses to the particularly vulnerable group in society”, Stephen Barrett, UNICEF Malaysia’s chief of social policy said.

Budget 2021, 12MP need to lift children of the urban poor out of poverty

The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) has urged government and opposition lawmakers to jointly urge the finance minister to reinstate the blanket moratorium on bank loans for at least six months through Budget 2021.

Union urges MPs from both sides to jointly seek reinstatement of loan moratorium via Budget 2021

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the government and the opposition should work together in developing an effective strategy in the upcoming national budget to address the Covid-19 pandemic.

Anwar calls for bipartisan Budget 2021 to be crafted and tabled to Parliament

The debt ceiling may be raised again to 65% to accommodate Budget 2021, as the level of federal government debt is expected to hit 63.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) next year, said KAF Research.

Debt ceiling could be raised again to 65% to accommodate expansionary Budget 2021 — KAF Research

RHB Investment Bank Bhd said Budget 2021 will be expansionary, albeit at a lower magnitude.

In a Budget 2021 preview today, RHB projected an improvement in the fiscal deficit to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021 from 6.5% in 2020, in line with the need for fiscal consolidation.

RHB expects spending on social assistance to remain significant

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was in talks with multiple people over buying TikTok and would likely have a decision on the popular app's future in the next 30 days.

Trump discussing TikTok purchase with multiple people, decision in 30 days

Coinbase Global Inc’s CEO said the company needs to rethink how it lists and evaluates the slew of new tokens getting created each week.

Coinbase CEO says surge in new tokens making evaluations harder

The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has been urged to conduct a comprehensive study on the non-office working hours for all healthcare workers.

MOH urged to conduct study on downtime for healthcare workers

SEPANG (Jan 26): The government's decision to extend subsidies to ensure the success of the airfare initiative during festive seasons has helped reduce people's grievances about high airline ticket prices, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

Loke said the success was proven after a ye...

Loke says airfare prices under control thanks to subsidies

US President Donald Trump's late-night firing of inspectors general at multiple government agencies was criticised as illegal on Saturday by Democrats and others and drew concern from at least one fellow Republican.

Trump's firing of independent watchdog officials draws criticism

The US may place a "very big bounty" on the top leaders of the Taliban, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday, adding he was hearing that the Taliban held more American hostages than previously reported.

US may put 'very big bounty' on Taliban leaders, Rubio says

Republican President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has instructed the US military to release a hold imposed by Democratic former president Joe Biden on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.

Trump makes 2,000-pound bombs available to Israel, undoing Biden pause

President Donald Trump said on Saturday he may consider rejoining the World Health Organization, days after ordering a US exit from the global health agency over what he described as a mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic and other international health crises.

Trump says he may consider rejoining World Health Organization

Elon Musk made a surprise appearance during Germany's AfD (Alternative fuer Deutschland) election campaign event in Halle in eastern Germany on Saturday, speaking publicly in support of the far right party for the second time in as many weeks.

Elon Musk appears on video at German far right campaign event

Alphabet’s Google, already facing an unprecedented regulatory onslaught, is looking to shape public perception and policies on artificial intelligence ahead of a global wave of AI regulation.

Google pushes global agenda to educate workers, lawmakers on AI

Republican President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has instructed the US military to release a hold imposed by Democratic former president Joe Biden on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.

Three ophthalmologists who started in government service before going into private practice now call themselves “accidental entrepreneurs”.

Accidental entrepreneurs 

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was in talks with multiple people over buying TikTok and would likely have a decision on the popular app's future in the next 30 days.

The Central Intelligence Agency said the Covid-19 pandemic “more likely” originated from a lab leak than a natural source, shifting its stance after previously saying both scenarios were possible.&nbsp;

CIA shifts view on Covid-19 cause with lab leak as ‘more likely’

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 26): Known for its successful Desa ParkCity township, ParkCity Group is injecting its formula and values into its upcoming township, ParkCity Botanika, in Cyberjaya.

Group CEO Datuk Joseph Lau shares the company’s plan for the new township. Spanning 259 acres, ParkCity...

Focused on people and community living

The US economy remained at a comfortable cruising speed in the final stretch of 2024, powered by healthy consumer spending and creating even more separation from its global counterparts.

US economy on solid footing set to back US Fed’s interest-rate hold