KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) may have its lowest dividend payout to the government in nine years, but the amount is still sufficient to cover the RM470bil Budget 2026, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
According to Amir, this was because the country has sufficient revenue to cover the expenses outlined in the latest Budget 2026.
“Even though Petronas dividends are lower this year, the country’s revenue is still enough to draft the biggest budget worth RM470.
“This (Budget) is supported by other revenues,” said Amir after a press conference on Budget 2026 in Parliament on Friday (Oct 10).
Amir said the government does not aim to pressure PETRONAS to give more dividends if global oil prices have dropped.
“If global oil prices drop, then dividends will also reduce.
“What is important is for us in Petronas to have enough funds to develop the petroleum industry within and outside the country so that we have returns that are profitable to the government,” said Amir.
Last year, Petronas committed to maintain paying a dividend of RM32bil to the government.
According to a fiscal outlook report released alongside Budget 2026, the government said it was expecting a dividend payout of RM20bil from Petronas next year, which was the lowest in nine-years.
In August, Petronas reported lower profits and revenues for the first half of 2025 due to falling benchmark prices.
Malaysia’s dependence on Petronas for national revenue declined to about 19%-20% in 2023.
