KUALA LUMPUR (March 6): Malaysia remains on track for fiscal consolidation in the post-pandemic era, with the shortfall in 2023 likely to narrow to 4.9% from 5.3% previously, said Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research (Fitch Solutions).

Fitch Solutions: Malaysia’s Budget 2023 signals quicker fiscal consolidation, deficit revised down to 4.9%

The government proposed another round of special voluntary disclosure programme (SVDP) with full penalty waiver starting June this year till end-2024.

The Inland Revenue Board and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department will be tasked to revive this programme again, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of revised Budget 2023 to Parliament on Friday (Feb 24).

Govt proposes new round of tax amnesty with full penalty waiver

Revised Budget 2023: Full speech of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

DE-CIX, a carrier- and data-centre-neutral internet exchange point headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, believes that the Malaysian government is becoming more committed to advancing its digital infrastructure and its economy.

Putrajaya more committed to advancing digital infrastructure and economy — DE-CIX

Malaysia’s revised Budget 2023 underlined plans to achieve greater savings by reviewing government procurement processes, and spur higher impact investments through targeted incentives for corporations at a time when the nation is “at a critical point in history” to balance fiscal management and growth.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is in his third month in office, also set the tone for the government’s policy in the budget — themed Membangun Malaysia Madani (Developing Malaysia Madani) — that focuses on the redistribution of wealth through income tax adjustments and the introduction of new taxes targeting the higher income group

Anwar’s Budget 2023 hits the right notes, but the test is in the implementation

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 25): RHB Investment Bank Research said consistent with its view, the revised Budget 2023 remains mildly expansionary with no major changes in the policies. The total allocation was revised upward to RM386.1 billion versus RM372.3 billion tabled by the previous government in October 2022.

No major surprises in revised Budget 2023, says RHB IB

Banks in Malaysia believe the Madani Budget has a good balancing act on improving the welfare of the rakyat while supporting the growth of businesses to move Malaysia forward, especially in the post-pandemic era and amid inflationary pressures.

Banks view Madani Budget as having fine balance to help businesses and citizens

Middle-income earners, more commonly known as the M40 group, were specifically mentioned in the revised Budget 2023, as they are also bearing the brunt of the rising cost of living, besides the B40 group.

Revised Budget 2023 offers various perks for M40 group

The government is reducing individual income tax by two percentage points for those in the taxable income bracket of RM35,000-RM100,000 starting this year, in a bid to relieve the burden of rising cost of living faced by the middle 40% household income group (M40).

“The B40 (bottom 40%) is often given various forms of aid, while the M40 has been exhibiting their patience despite being squeezed by the rising cost of living,” he told the Dewan Rakyat in tabling the revised Budget 2023 on Friday (Feb 24).

Tax cut for M40, tax increase for T20

The revised Budget 2023 strikes a balance between the need to support the economy and the commitment on fiscal consolidation, said OCBC Bank.

Chief economist of OCBC Bank Selena Ling in a statement on Friday (Feb 24) said the budget tabled was in line with market and OCBC’s expectation, with a resolve to see the budget deficit reduced to 5% from 5.6% of GDP in 2022.

OCBC Bank: Revised Budget 2023 supports economy, prioritizes fiscal consolidation

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) said that the revised Budget 2023 tabled on Friday (Feb 24) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim lacked support for the manufacturing industry.

“We are disappointed that Budget 2023 has not provided any assistance to support trade for industries to expand their market access as many face severe impact to their existing markets due to the prolonged Ukraine-Russia conflict,” said FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai in a statement.

FMM: Revised Budget 2023 lacks support for manufacturing

The revised Budget 2023 enables inclusive and sustainable economic growth, instils confidence through institutional and governance reforms, as well as advance social justice, said Khazanah Research Institute (KRI).

Revised Budget 2023 ensures inclusive growth for individuals and corporates, says KRI and ICDM

The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) urged the government to implement the Mass Rapid Transit Circle Line (MRT3) project, which will allow the construction industry to benefit from the multiplier effect, following the government’s decision to review the project.

Revised Budget 2023: MBAM urges govt to commence MRT3 project to revive construction sector

The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) has called on the government to include imposing an excise duty on electronic cigarettes and vaping products that do not contain nicotine as part of the revised Budget 2023 proposals.

In welcoming the government’s move to impose an excise duty on e-cigarettes and vaping products containing nicotine, MCTC said: "The government must also acknowledge that a large part of the e-cigarette and vaping product market consists of products which do not contain nicotine, and the consumption of these products make up a large part of the purported RM2 billion per year income reported by the vape industry.

Consider imposing excise duty on no-nicotine e-cigarettes, vapes, MCTC tells Govt

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Panasonic Malaysia, Affin Hwang Investment, Velesto Energy, Green Packet, Top Builders Capital, Star Media, Citaglobal, AME Elite, SCIB, UP, Meta Bright, Top Builders, Kimlun and Synergy House

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