A TOTAL of RM80.4bil is being sought by ministries and agencies for development expenditure under Budget 2027, says the Economy Ministry.
The allocations are for 9,955 new project proposals and ongoing projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with a total value of RM944bil.
The ministry said the project bids would be assessed against national development priorities and the government’s fiscal position to ensure they remain within the development ceiling for the year.
It said engagement sessions were held with ministries, state governments and agencies to draw up a priority list based on need and their capacity to deliver projects on time.
“This is to ensure that the allocation for the approved projects is spent within the year and completed on schedule,” it said.
The ministry said this in a written reply to Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman), who asked how the government ensured that projects announced by the government were funded with clear timelines.
“To ensure that approved projects can be implemented immediately, the 13MP sets a target that no development project remains unstarted in the second year after approval,” the ministry said.
The plan aims to bring the number of stalled projects down to zero by 2030, it added.
The ministry said the ministries and agencies would be accountable for their respective projects, which are monitored by the Implementation Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department.
In July, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said RM37.18bil, or 45.93%, of this year’s development allocation had been spent.
“Expenditure only matters when the money produces completed work and benefits that reach the people,” he was reported to have said.
The project bids come as the government forecasts that fuel subsidies could cost almost RM40bil this year, more than double the RM15bil allocated under Budget 2026, after the Middle East crisis pushed up oil prices.
Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong said in July that the government’s fiscal projections would be announced with Budget 2027.
