KUALA LUMPUR: “Giving back to the rakyat.”
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said Budget 2026 has placed emphasis on good governance to ensure fiscal responsibility and expenditure which will be handled accordingly by the government.
“Whatever savings we made will be returned to the rakyat. This is will give credence to the nation’s economic foundation whereby the interest of the people and achieving prosperity for the nation are protected,” he said.
Fadillah said this is the first time Sabah and Sarawak are getting special development allocation.
Sabah and Sarawak will receive RM6.9bil and RM6bil respectively besides other development allocations announced under the budget.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi concurred, saying the budget reflected the government’s continued emphasis on fiscal responsibility and its commitment towards the well-being of the people.
“The budget is not only aimed at protecting the rakyat from global challenges but to also represent an investment for their future” he said.
Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, noted that RM460mil has been allocated to strengthen the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).
He said this will boost the agency’s preparedness in facing the annual year-end monsoon season.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said while Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) may have paid out its lowest dividend to the government in nine years, the amount is still sufficient to cover the RM470bil Budget 2026.
According to him, the country has enough revenue to cover the expenses required for the budget.
“Even though PETRONAS’ dividends are lower this year, the country’s revenue is still enough for a budget worth RM470bil,” he said, adding the budget is also supported by other revenues.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, meanwhile, thanked the Finance Ministry for including several suggestions by the Transport Ministry in Budget 2026 such as an incentive for heavy vehicle operators to install speed limitation devices in their vehicles as well as introducing a vehicle scrapping incentive worth up to RM4,000 for owners of vehicles older than 20 years to replace them with new cars.
