Addressing Malaysia’s fiscal challenges 


LAST week, this column focused on economic reforms and why it is difficult to address some of the long-standing structural issues related to the removal of subsidies, the introduction of new or higher taxes, and Malaysia’s relatively low wage structure.

These issues, which are clear concerns for any government running the country, have significant fiscal implications if not addressed head-on.

Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Insight

China, five years on
Decent 3Q25, but a challenging 2026 awaits
Beijing or Global South consensus?
Sharing resources� �Malaysia’s next reform test
Future of digital is green
ARM-ing for the future
Stemming the AI takeover
High cost of retirement
Rising yuan won’t slow China’s export boom
HSBC chair is one of the toughest jobs – Fancy it?

Others Also Read