The national Budget 2024 tabled by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Dewan Rakyat last Friday (Oct 13) included allocations to support energy transition and biodiversity initiatives, and to spur the voluntary carbon market in the country.

Budget 2024: Support for energy transition, biodiversity and carbon markets

The government needs to provide a "clear mechanism" on the implementation of capital gains tax (CGT) on profits from the disposal of unlisted shares to avoid double taxation, said KPMG Malaysia executive director and head of tax Soh Lian Seng.

Govt needs to provide clear capital gains tax mechanism to avoid double taxation, says KPMG 

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in a statement on Monday expressed its support and confidence in Budget 2024, and reiterated its commitment to help members safeguard their savings.

EPF vows to fortify members' savings, retirement security

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says Budget 2024, the second Madani Budget, reflects the government's determination to uplift the national economy and the people's well-being. (Read the full Budget 2024 speech here.Or go here for our comprehensive Budget 2024 coverage.)

Here are some of the national budget's key takeaways:

Highlights of Budget 2024

The government has announced several new tax reform measures in Budget 2024, which aims to broaden the country’s revenue base.

Budget 2024: More clarity needed for tax reforms — tax analysts 

The Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) said certain measures introduced in Budget 2024 support the development and ongoing implementation of the institute’s competency framework (CFM).

MIA says Budget 2024 supports development of its competency framework

After years of spending more than it earned, the Malaysian government’s latest budget (Budget 2024) announcement reflected Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim administration’s cautious steps in navigating between pressure for more populist measures while maintaining a certain level of fiscal discipline.

Treading a fine line between fiscal discipline and populist measures

Budget 2024 strikes the right balance to bolster Malaysia’s resilience amid global headwinds, while advancing economic transformation and improving socio-economic outcomes for all, said Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir.

Budget 2024 strikes right balance to boost economic transformation, says Khazanah MD

Budget 2024’s focus on sustainability is welcomed by the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), which also reminded that monitoring of budget allocations would be crucial to avoid leakages and achieve the desired outcomes.

Budget’s sustainability related measures welcomed, close monitoring needed — Consumers Association of Penang

Go here for our comprehensive Budget 2024 coverage.

BUDGET 2024 SPEECH

BY YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM
PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE

Full Budget 2024 speech

Tax leaders have lauded the proposed reforms of the tax incentive system under Budget 2024, which was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament on Friday.

Tax leaders laud incentive reforms as timely, promoting high-value growth

The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) has expressed disappointment that its "carefully outlined" wish list for Budget 2024 did not make it into the government’s budgetary priorities.

MPOA disappointed as Budget wish list unfulfilled

The government will lift the price controls on chicken and eggs, as supply has stabilised and the retail prices now are below the set ceiling prices, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Govt to lift price controls on chicken and eggs to allow market to function freely, says Anwar

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) is of the view that Budget 2024, which it noted was drafted against a still uncertain macro backdrop, is overall a "well-balanced, prudent and forward-thinking" plan that rightly focused on more concrete fiscal reforms, with a notable effort and step in the right trajectory to restore public finances and strengthen the nation's collective resilience.

FMM hails Budget 2024 as 'well-balanced, prudent and forward-thinking', but disappointed it did not address sluggish trade growth

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were little changed on Monday, with technology stocks under pressure as oil prices hit about two-week highs ahead of big bank earnings and inflation data due this week that couldinfluence the Fed's monetary policy path.

Oil surge keeps S&P 500, Nasdaq in check before earnings; Salesforce lifts Dow

Cleanroom services provider iCents Group Holdings Bhd (KL:ICENTS) said it has secured a contract worth RM36.15 million to undertake engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) works for the turnkey development of a semiconductor wafer processing facility in Selangor.

iCents Group bags RM36 mil job from US-based company for EPCC works in Selangor

Zetrix AI Bhd’s (KL:ZETRIX) managing director Wong Thean Soon, better known as TS Wong, has continued to sell down his shareholding, further reducing his stake in the company.

TS Wong’s stake in Zetrix falls further, independent director Mohd Mokhtar resigns

SoftBank Group Corp-backed OPay Digital Services Ltd plans to raise about US$500 million (RM2.04 billion) with its private placement and an initial public offering in New York, according to people familiar with the matter.

 SoftBank-backed OPay eyes up to US$500 mil in New York listing — Bloomberg

The government must take “drastic” action to reduce its reliance on imports and strengthen domestic manufacturing, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Minister urges ‘drastic’ action to cut reliance on imports amid review of China trade deficit

Microsoft said on Monday it will roll out its in-house Maia artificial intelligence (AI) chips on a massive scale starting in 2027, making them the main hardware for running AI across its products — a move that could reduce its reliance on Nvidia.

Microsoft bets on homegrown Maia AI chip to challenge Nvidia

Proposals to improve the fuel subsidy targeting mechanism, strengthening education and school safety, and public welfare were among issues raised on the first day of the policy-stage debate on the Supply Bill 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.

Fuel subsidy, education and public welfare among issues raised on first day of Supply Bill 2027 debate

The world may be overexcited by the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and overlooking its immaturity, tech leaders warned on Monday, arguing that cybersecurity is a bigger near-term issue than AI developing too quickly.

TikTok’s Chew and Microsoft’s Althoff warn about runaway AI hype

Medical technology solutions provider LAC Med Bhd (KL:LACMED) has secured a seven-year contract worth up to RM20 million to supply medical imaging equipment and related services to an upcoming specialist healthcare centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

LAC Med bags RM20m imaging equipment supply contract for new PJ medical centre 

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12): The High Court on Monday fixed June 14 next year for case management on the Malaysian Bar’s legal challenge against the Attorney General’s Chambers decision to drop corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Yayasan Akalbudi case.

Bar's challenge to AG’s decision to drop Zahid probe on hold pending apex court ruling

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12): The High Court on Monday fixed June 14 next year for case management on the Malaysian Bar’s legal challenge against the Attorney General’s Chambers decision to drop corruption&nbsp;charges against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Yayasan Akalbudi case.

AS the life expectancy of Malaysians increases, Putrajaya is aiming for at least 60% of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members to meet the Basic Savings benchmark of RM390,000 by age 60 by 2030. However, the government acknowledges that many Malaysians still risk outliving their savings during a ...

The State of the Nation: Recasting the age 55 EPF withdrawal into a lifetime pension promise  

AirAsia (KL:AAGB) co-founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes met with officials from Malaysia's Finance Ministry two weeks ago to discuss potential government support for Southeast Asia's largest low-cost airline, said three people with knowledge of the matter.

AirAsia in talks with govt over potential funding support — Reuters

RHB Research sees value emerging in Malaysian property stocks after the recent sell-off, with the sector now trading at a 60% discount to their revalued net asset value (RNAV), wider than the 50% in May.

RHB sees value in battered property stocks, now at a 60% discount to asset value

FORMER Employees Provident Fund CEO Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan’s suggestion that employers raise their EPF contribution level to help lift the retirement savings of lower-wage earners raised eyebrows as it called attention to his illustration that employers could hypothetically contribute only...

The State of the Nation: Don’t penalise high-income earners when lifting EPF contribution for lower-wage cohorts

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) has secured a 100% take-up for the first phase of Seroja Gardens at Nilai Impian, Negeri Sembilan, within three hours of its launch in September.

Sime Darby Property’s Seroja Gardens Phase 1 sold out in three hours

Two startling pieces of news surfaced last week about private companies that collect money on behalf of the government.

Frankly Speaking: When suspension is not good enough

1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) is in talks with Deutsche Bank (M) Bhd&nbsp;to settle their legal dispute, the court heard on Monday.

1MDB in settlement talks with Deutsche Bank

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12): His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia,&nbsp;attended a state welcoming ceremony at Istana Negara on Monday, marking the start of King Abdullah II of Jordan's two-day state visit to Malaysia, which began on Sunday (Oct 11).

Sultan Ibrahim attends state welcoming ceremony for Jordan’s King Abdullah II

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12): United Malacca Bhd (KL:UMCCA) said minority shareholders will be compensated for missing a general offer that should have been launched in 2024.

United Malacca to compensate minority shareholders for missing general offer

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12): Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said Malaysia should develop new revenue sources to support its finances beyond petroleum, proposing the establishment of a national rare earth entity modelled on Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS).

Hamzah proposes PETRONAS-style rare earth entity to develop industry

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12): Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin urged the government and Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) to review the RM15,000 minimum savings requirement for eligibility to join the haj queue.

Opposition leader urges review of Tabung Haji’s RM15k minimum savings requirement for haj queue

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 12): Batik Air has cancelled its scheduled flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday as a precautionary measure amid the ongoing conflict.

Batik Air cancels Oct 12 KL-Jeddah flight

IJM Corporation Bhd (KL:IJM) has secured a RM1.23 billion contract from AT&amp;S Austria Technologie &amp; Systemtechnik (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to construct semiconductor manufacturing facilities at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah.

IJM bags RM1.23 bil contract to build AT&S semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Kedah

IN Malaysian restaurants, a telling sign of growing pressure on household budgets can be seen in what customers are increasingly omitting from their orders.

In its latest Malaysia Retail Industry Report, Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) says many diners are choosing cheaper dishes and drinks...

The State of the Nation: Malaysia’s economy growing, but consumers counting every ringgit

THE government’s move to support a fundraising drive for low-cost carrier AirAsia Group Bhd (KL:AAGB) is raising questions over how far it should go to help a heavily indebted private company and whether taxpayers could ultimately be left footing the bill.

People familiar with the matte...

Debate over government’s role in private enterprise

IOIPG Malaysia REIT has entered into an underwriting agreement with a group of six financial institutions for its initial public offering (IPO) on the Main Market.

Six financial institutions to underwrite 165m units of IOIPG Malaysia REIT Main Market IPO

Our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are in real danger of being gutted by their hyper-competitive counterparts from China whose overcapacity is being exported to our domestic markets. They create very little domestic employment and value-add, bringing in an en bloc shipment of labour and over...

My Say: The SME crisis: How China’s exported over-capacity is gutting Malaysia’s private sector

Singapore rolled out subsidies for haze-related medical treatment Monday and schools were closed in parts of neighbouring Malaysia, as both countries grapple with persistently unhealthy air quality due to fires in nearby Indonesia.

Singapore rolls out haze subsidies as Malaysia extends school closures

Consumer and property stocks could emerge as among the main beneficiaries of Budget 2027, although analysts see limited upside for the broader equity market.

Budget 2024

‌‌

‌
‌