KUALA LUMPUR, October 8 — Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said Budget 2026 will focus on strengthening household resilience and driving long-term economic transformation, striking a balance between immediate relief and sustainable growth.
Speaking at the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2025, he said the Budget — to be tabled this Friday — represents the “opening act” of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), setting Malaysia’s direction for 2026 to 2030. “For families balancing monthly budgets or young Malaysians seeking their first jobs, uncertainty is a lived reality. Budget 2026 is designed with them at its heart,” he said.
The Budget will prioritise social protection, semiconductors, energy transition, digitalisation, and innovation, all aimed at re-industrialising Malaysia under the New Industrial Master Plan and National Semiconductor Strategy. Amir Hamzah added that fiscal reforms remain a cornerstone, with the deficit expected to narrow to 3.8% of GDP, supported by the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023 and new transparency laws.
“The 13MP is not just a plan for the economy, but for Malaysians — to create better jobs, more affordable living, and stronger businesses,” he said, affirming Malaysia’s resilience amid global challenges with record FDI inflows, a stronger ringgit, low inflation, and falling unemployment.
