Over the past decade, more than 50% of fresh graduates had been drawing a starting salary of below RM2,000 a month, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in the Economic Outlook Report 2025.

Majority of fresh graduates entered job market with insufficient earnings

The Madani economy framework has set targets for compensation of employees (CE) to GDP at 40% by 2025 and 45% by 2033. This was 33.1% in 2023.

Low average wage growth highlights need for meaningful hikes  

The federal government's debt is projected to rise at a slower pace of 6% in 2025 compared with 7.5% in 2024, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in its Fiscal Outlook and Federal Government Revenue Estimates report.

Federal govt debt growth seen slowing to 6% in 2025, still within 64% of GDP — MOF

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 18): The federal government’s committed guarantee, which forms its debt and liabilities exposures, increased to RM231.4 billion as at end-June 2024, against RM227.4 billion in 2023.

Federal govt’s committed guarantees rise to RM231.4b as at end-June 2024, lifting total to RM407.8b

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 18): The federal government plans to rein in its development expenditure in 2025 with more “strategic” spending, putting a cap on the rise in spending over the past decade.

Development expenditure to plateau with ‘strategic’ spending after peaking in 2023

In anticipation of a better economic outlook on both domestic and external fronts, Malaysia's labour market is poised to remain stable in 2025. The unemployment rate is expected to drop further to 3.1%, reaching its lowest point in a decade as the economy gains momentum and structural reforms take effect.

Unemployment rate to hit decade low of 3.1% in 2025

The federal government expects to hit a fresh record high of RM339.71 billion in 2025, up 5.5% against a revised estimate of RM322.05 billion in 2024, driven by an increase in both direct and indirect tax collection, according to the Ministry of Finance’s (MOF) 2025 Fiscal Outlook and Federal Government Revenue Estimates.

Public revenue seen reaching record RM339.7b in 2025, but only 16.3% of GDP

As of the end of August 2024, the number of registered low-skilled foreign workers accounted for 2.5 million persons, nearing the allowable threshold of 15% of total employment, according to the Ministry of Finance in its 2025 Economic Outlook report.

Number of low-skilled foreign workers near allowable threshold at end-August 2024

The federal government's debt service charges (DSC) are expected to reach RM54.7 billion in 2025, a 7.7% rise from RM50.8 billion projected in 2024, according to the Ministry of Finance's (MOF) Fiscal Outlook and Federal Government Revenue Estimates report.

Debt service charges to rise to RM54.7 bil in 2025, up 7.7% y-o-y

Malaysia's headline inflation may accelerate in 2025 to its fastest in eight years as the Ministry of Finance (MOF) flagged potential price pressures from subsidy rationalisation and external shocks.

Inflation in Malaysia may hit eight-year high in 2025 as MOF flags subsidy rationalisation

Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) will cover an area governed by six local authorities in Iskandar Malaysia and Pengerang, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The sites in southern Johor proposed by the state government would span an area about five times larger than Singapore, the ministry said in the 2025 Economic Outlook report.

Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone to cover Iskandar Malaysia, Pengerang

Malaysia’s economy is projected to expand steadily as household spending picks up while business investments and exports continue to rise, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Malaysia's economy to expand steadily after 2024 forecast revised up — MOF report 

Malaysia’s current account balance will improve this year as well as in 2025 after hitting a 26-year low in 2023, thanks to exports, tourism activities, and investment, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

Malaysia’s current-account surplus will widen further after 26-year low in 2023

The government will implement the global minimum tax (GMT) on multinational enterprises (MNEs) in as early as January 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen the country's tax base, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in its Fiscal Outlook and Federal Government Revenue Estimates Report.

Global minimum tax on multinational enterprises to start as early as January — MOF

A US bribery indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is linked to one contract of Adani Green Energy comprising some 10% of its business, and none of the conglomerate's other companies are accused of wrongdoing, the group's chief financial officer (CFO) said on Saturday.

Adani CFO defends against US charges, says linked to one business contract

As of the end of October, Malaysia’s 5G coverage in populated areas had reached 82.1%, up from 80.2% last year, while internet coverage in populated areas stood at 98.38%, compared with 97.07% in 2023.

Malaysia's 5G coverage hit 82.1%, internet access near 100% at end-October — ministry

Lattice Semiconductor Corp is considering making an offer for all of Intel Corp’s Altera, people familiar with the matter said, in a twist that could complicate the chip giant’s plans to sell a minority stake in the unit.

Lattice Semiconductor mulling offer for Intel’s Altera unit, Bloomberg reports

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign rating was upgraded by Moody’s Ratings for the first time since the company first assessed the kingdom in 2016.

The rating company took the kingdom’s creditworthiness up a notch to Aa3, its fourth-highest grade, according to a statement on Friday. The Moody’s rating is now above those of Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings.

Saudi Arabia’s rating upgraded by Moody’s for first time

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the Two Years of Madani Government (2TM) Programme and the 2024 National Convention on Public Service Reform in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Saturday.

PM to officiate 'two years of Madani govt' programme, national convention on public service reform on Saturday

The government has increased the rooftop solar capacity by another 300MW for the commercial and industrial segment, and by 50MW for households.

Additional rooftop solar quota for M'sian businesses, households

Keck Seng (M) Bhd (KL:KSENG) booked an unrealised foreign exchange (forex) loss of RM81.84 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), which in turn dragged the group into the red.

Unrealised forex loss of RM81.8 mil pulls Keck Seng into the red in 3Q

China’s rise has challenged America’s undisputed hegemony over the world economy – a status the United States has enjoyed since the Soviet Union’s collapse. While some American national-security elites seek continued US primacy, others seem resigned to an increasingly bipolar world. A more likely...

Roads To Prosperity:  Middle powers will make a multipolar world

The government successfully saved almost RM1 million in flight costs for the recent official visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his delegation, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi: Govt saved nearly RM1 mil in Anwar's official flight costs

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet approved a stimulus package that’s slightly bigger than last year’s, as he followed up on a pledge to ramp up support for households and businesses struggling to cope with higher costs.

Japan’s Cabinet approves stimulus in show of progress for Ishiba

A record-high US$7 trillion (RM31.28 trillion) of cash is currently sitting "on the sidelines" in money market funds (MMFs). Anyone hoping to see a significant chunk of this flooding the wider investment field in the coming months may be disappointed.

America's US$7 tril cash stash isn't going anywhere

When Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP) was established in 2007, with an initial fund of RM41.9 billion, the federal government’s pension and gratuity obligations stood at a mere RM8.25 billion, just 6.7% of its total operating expenditure (opex).

The pension conundrum: KWAP pushes for thoughtful reform amid growing charges

The corporate earnings reporting season for the July-September quarter comes to a close this week. Among the companies slated to announce their financial results are banking groups Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK), Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK), RHB Bank Bhd (KL:RHBBANK) and Hong Leong Bank Bhd (KL:HLBANK) as well as utility giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA).

The Week Ahead: Spotlight on corporate earnings of banks, Tenaga and Opec+ meeting

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday said he will nominate prominent investor&nbsp;Scott Bessent&nbsp;as the US&nbsp;Treasury secretary, a key Cabinet position with vast influence over economic, regulatory and international affairs.

Trump taps tax reform, deregulation advocate Scott Bessent for Treasury

The government has increased the rooftop solar capacity by another 300MW for the commercial and industrial segment, and by 50MW for households.&nbsp;

Global&nbsp;stocks registered&nbsp;a strong weekly gain on Friday, while US&nbsp;Treasury yields&nbsp;slipped as&nbsp;markets&nbsp;eyed President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump's likely policies&nbsp;and their&nbsp;impact on the US&nbsp;economy, even as bitcoin traded near the US$100,000 (RM446,800) threshold.

Stocks notch strong weekly gain, US yields slip as markets eye Trump policies

Amazon.com Inc&nbsp;is investing an additional US$4 billion (RM17.87 billion) in artificial intelligence (AI) startup Anthropic, boosting its stake in one of OpenAI’s chief rivals.

Amazon invests additional US$4b in AI firm Anthropic

US&nbsp;bank Citigroup has received approval to establish&nbsp;its regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Friday.

Citi granted licence for regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, memo shows

The banks most reluctant to tap the US&nbsp;central bank's discount window to shore up their capital are in fact those who face the highest failure risk, according to new research from the New York Federal Reserve (Fed) that turns the notion of bank emergency borrowing stigma on its head.

New York Fed paper challenges notion of discount window stigma

Keck Seng (M) Bhd (KL:KSENG) booked an unrealised foreign exchange (forex) loss of RM81.84 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), which in turn dragged the group into the red.&nbsp;

UK retail sales declined more than expected in October, as uncertainty over Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves first budget prompted consumers to hold back spending.

UK retail sales fell more than expected amid budget anxiety

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet approved a stimulus package that’s slightly bigger than last year’s, as he followed up on a pledge to ramp up support for households and businesses struggling to cope with higher costs.

China’s rise has challenged America’s undisputed hegemony over the world economy – a status the United States has enjoyed since the Soviet Union’s collapse. While some American national-security elites seek continued US primacy, others seem resigned to an increasingly bipolar world. A more likely...

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the Two Years of Madani Government (2TM) Programme and the 2024 National Convention on Public Service Reform in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign rating was upgraded by Moody’s Ratings for the first time since the company first assessed the kingdom in 2016.

The rating&nbsp;company took the kingdom’s creditworthiness up a notch to Aa3, its fourth-highest grade, according to a statement on Friday. The Moody’s rating is now above those of Fitch Ratings and S&amp;P Global Ratings.&nbsp;

Lattice Semiconductor Corp&nbsp;is considering making an offer for all of Intel Corp’s Altera, people familiar with the matter said, in a twist that could complicate the chip giant’s plans to sell a minority stake in the unit.&nbsp;

As of the end of October, Malaysia’s 5G coverage in populated areas had reached 82.1%, up from 80.2% last year, while internet coverage in populated areas stood at 98.38%, compared with&nbsp;97.07% in 2023.

Economic Report 2024/2025

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Economic Report 2024/2025

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