The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has urged the government to delay by two years its plan to implement mandatory Employees Provident Fund (EPF) coverage for foreign workers in the country, to allow sufficient time for stakeholder consultations.

FMM wants govt to delay mandatory EPF coverage for foreign workers

The Budget 2025 announced last Friday (Oct 18) has highlighted efforts to strengthen the Madani Economy framework; however, it does not provide the necessary boost required by the oil and gas services and equipment (OGSE) sector, said the Malaysian Oil, Gas and Energy Services Council (MOGSC).

MOGSC sees lack of support for O&G sector in Budget 2025, seeks more tangible support measures

While the newly announced Budget 2025 is not a “property budget”, property consultants applaud the introduction of tax relief for housing loan interest payments up to RM7,000, which is expected to encourage first-time homeownership.

In the Budget 2025 tabled last Friday, the government announced individual tax relief for housing loan interest payments to encourage first-home ownership. Tax relief of as much as RM7,000 will be provided for homes worth up to RM500,000, while tax relief of up to RM5,000 will be provided for houses priced between RM500,000 and RM750,000.

Consultants see tax relief for housing loans supporting first-time buyers amid limited property measures in Budget 2025

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Full Budget 2025 speech

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): The upward adjustment to the windfall profit levy (WPL) threshold for crude palm oil (CPO) announced in Budget 2025 “does not address the financial burdens” posed by the mechanism, the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said.

Upwards adjustment to palm oil windfall profit levy threshold not sufficient, says MPOA

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Malaysia’s smaller budget deficit for 2025 reflects the government’s continued commitment to gradual fiscal consolidation, S&P Global Ratings said on Saturday.

Malaysia’s smaller budget deficit reflects govt’s commitment to gradual consolidation — S&P

Tax leaders at the Big Four accounting firms and other tax experts said measures proposed under Budget 2025 would dovetail with the government’s fiscal consolidation plan though more clarity is required.

Big Four, tax experts say Budget 2025 measures fit into fiscal consolidation goal

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said it will provide micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with affordable and holistic financing with a fund size of RM3.8 billion.

Speaking on its initiatives under Budget 2025, the central bank said the RM3.8 billion will go towards supporting MSMEs' move towards digitalisation and automation, embracing sustainable and low carbon practices, and agrofood production.

BNM to support MSMEs with RM3.8 bil in holistic financing

Malaysian banks have expressed support for Budget 2025, which aims towards fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Malaysian banks laud Budget 2025 for promoting sustainable, inclusive economic growth

Malaysia’s Budget 2025 sees more small steps being taken towards supporting the ordinary Malaysians folks, particularly the low-income groups. The government is riding the positive economic growth enjoyed this year, introducing more measures to redirect wealth to the needy.

More, but not bold, steps towards reform as Budget 2025 unveiled

The government has extended the exemption from individual income tax for foreign-sourced income for 10 years until Dec 31, 2036, as part of a slew of income tax exemptions and reliefs for individuals, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced in his Budget 2025 speech on Friday.

Govt extends individual income tax exemption for foreign-sourced income for another 10 years, plus other tax reliefs

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has voiced its disappointment with the government’s decision to increase the excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages under Budget 2025.

FMM disappointed with sugary drink tax, calls for holistic approach

More details on the mechanism for targeted subsidies for RON95 petrol should come in the coming months as the government is still in the process of reviewing it, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

One of the proposals under discussion, he said, is the introduction of an identification system at retail stations, where eligible Malaysians would need to use their identity cards to verify eligibility before the subsidised price is displayed.

More details on targeted RON95 subsidies expected in coming months, says Loke

The government is prioritising future development efforts on essential infrastructure that benefit the people and support industrial developments, rather than mega projects.

Govt prioritising essential infrastructure over mega projects

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): TSH Resources Bhd (KL:TSH) has voluntarily offered to engage with the Singapore government's assessors panel to evaluate its operations, corporate relationships and supply chains in connection with the fires in Indonesia that have contributed to the transboundary haze.

TSH Resources volunteers to engage with Singapore agency's independent assessors over haze

BENGALURU (Nov 2): Australian lender Westpac on Monday warned of a housing market downturn steeper than any seen in nearly two decades and reported a twofold jump in credit impairment charges, while full-year adjusted profit met market expectations.

Westpac flags deepest housing downturn in nearly two decades, impairment charges double

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): October saw renewed growth in output and new orders, signaling a fresh improvement in Malaysia's manufacturing health, according to the latest S&P Global PMI data.

Malaysian manufacturing sector regains growth in October — PMI data

WASHINGTON (Nov 1): President Donald Trump's White House has spent months preparing for a possible Democratic takeover of Congress, developing plans to keep advancing major parts of his agenda through executive power while bracing for investigations of his administration, according to a White Hou...

Trump White House maps path to govern without Congress if Democrats win

HANOI (Nov 2): Businesses are divided over whether Washington should propose new tariffs on Vietnamese goods this month, with Tesla and Samsung not in favour, while others have called for penalties, submissions to the US government show.

Tesla, Samsung oppose new US tariffs on Vietnam as probe deadline nears

TOKYO (Nov 2): Japan's manufacturing sector expanded at its slowest pace in seven months in October as output and new orders lost momentum while cost pressures picked up, a business survey showed on Monday.

Japan's October factory growth slows as costs pick up, PMI shows

Are Malaysian workers underpaid? It is an important question. But citing a relatively low labour share does not answer it.

Tong's Portfolio — We repeat: A smaller share of GDP does not mean workers are underpaid

More than one-third of Malaysian tertiary graduates are working in jobs that do not fully utilise the qualifications they spent years earning. At the same time, employers are saying they cannot find workers with the skills they need. These two phenomena may appear contradictory. Yet, both are true at once. In Part 2 of our three-part series on education in Malaysia this week, we examine what this skill mismatch reveals about our education system.

Tong's Portfolio — More degrees, wrong skills: Malaysia’s graduate mismatch

SYDNEY (Nov 2): Asian share markets slipped on Monday as worries about the sustainability of the AI investment boom loomed over the tech sector, while the high price of oil limited the safe-haven appeal of sovereign bonds.

Asia shares bend under AI stress; Apple earnings loom

(Nov 1): DeepSeek has released a prototype of a more autonomous coding agent as it seeks to challenge Anthropic PBC's popular Claude Code.

The new open-source offering, dubbed "Super-agent" can proactively monitor group chats among d...

DeepSeek drops enhanced coding agent with aim to rival Anthropic

SYDNEY (Nov 2): Asian share markets slipped on Monday as worries about the sustainability of the AI investment boom loomed over the tech sector, while the high price of oil limited the safe-haven appeal of sovereign bonds.

President Donald Trump said a US-Canada trade deal is “very close” after talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said both sides would work on a “mutually beneficial” outcome in the weeks ahead.&nbsp;

Trump says US-Canada trade deal is close after talks with Carney

More than one-third of Malaysian tertiary graduates are working in jobs that do not fully utilise the qualifications they spent years earning. At the same time, employers are saying they cannot find workers with the skills they need. These two phenomena may appear contradictory. Yet, both are true at once. In Part 2 of our three-part series on education in Malaysia this week, we examine what this skill mismatch reveals about our education system.

Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Nov 2, 2026 

Are Malaysian workers underpaid? It is an important question. But citing a relatively low labour share does not answer it.

FRANKFURT/PEISSENBERG, Germany (Nov 1): German ministers threatened tough penalties for looters and rioters who damaged stores and injured more than 100 police officers in Frankfurt overnight, while praising security forces for preventing wider violence.

Frankfurt emerged as the main fl...

German ministers vow tough response to Frankfurt riots and looting

Oil dropped ahead of Tuesday’s US midterm elections despite fresh attacks on vessels around the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian threats to broaden retaliation if the US renews strikes.

Oil declines ahead of midterm elections despite Hormuz attacks

(Nov 1):- The stock market got a long-awaited jolt of volatility late last week after disappointing earnings from technology giants added to angst around the AI-driven rally.

Now traders are bracing for further shocks this week from the US midterm elections and Nvidia Corp. earnings lat...

Wall Street braces for more wild days in stocks after tech rout

BEIJING/Hong Kong (Nov 2):&nbsp;Five of China's largest state-owned banks reported quarterly profit growth of between 6% and 11%, supported by stabilising net interest margins (NIM) and steadier asset quality, even as a slowing economy continued to weigh.

Each of the five lenders posted...

China's big banks post fastest quarterly profit growth in years as margins stabilise

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(Nov 1):&nbsp;DeepSeek has released a prototype of a more autonomous coding agent as it seeks to challenge Anthropic PBC's popular Claude Code.

The new open-source offering, dubbed "Super-agent" can proactively monitor group chats among d...

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): October saw renewed growth in output and new orders, signalling a fresh improvement in Malaysia's manufacturing health, according to the latest S&amp;P Global PMI data.

WASHINGTON (Nov 1): President Donald Trump's White House has spent months preparing for a possible Democratic takeover of Congress, developing plans to keep advancing major parts of his agenda through executive power while bracing for investigations of his administration, according to a White Hou...

HANOI (Nov 2): Businesses are divided over whether Washington should propose new tariffs on Vietnamese goods this month, with Tesla and Samsung not in favour, while others have called for penalties, submissions to the US government show.

TOKYO (Nov 2): Japan's manufacturing sector expanded at its slowest pace in seven months in October as output and new orders lost momentum while cost pressures picked up, a business survey showed on Monday.

BENGALURU (Nov 2): Australian lender Westpac on Monday warned of a housing market downturn steeper than any seen in nearly two decades and reported a twofold jump in credit impairment charges, while full-year adjusted profit met market expectations.

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): TSH Resources Bhd (KL:TSH) has voluntarily offered to engage with&nbsp;the Singapore government's assessors panel to evaluate its operations, corporate relationships&nbsp;and supply chains in connection with the fires in Indonesia that have contributed to the transboundary haze.

Budget 2025

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