KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2026 continues to strengthen the provision of essential public services through various measures covering healthcare, education, mobility and housing to further enhance people's well-being.
According to the Economic Outlook 2027 report released by the Finance Ministry Friday (Oct 9), the health sector received an allocation of RM46.5bil, including RM1.2bil for the maintenance and repair of hospitals and clinics, and RM100mil to upgrade wards in district hospitals.
The report noted that as of the end of August 2026, 89 of the 102 district hospital ward upgrading projects had received letters of acceptance, while the remaining projects were still at the preliminary procurement stage. Another RM3.9mil was spent on primary healthcare reforms implemented through health departments nationwide.
In education, RM20mil was allocated to expand the MySISWA Job on Campus initiative to all public universities, with more than 13,000 students appointed to 850 types of on-campus jobs as of August 2026, exceeding the original target of 10,000 students.
The Dapur Siswa Madani initiative was also expanded from 75 to 143 operating premises, benefiting more than 200,000 students from lower-income and vulnerable groups as of the end of July 2026.
On mobility, the expansion of the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) programme benefited more than 18 million passengers, while subsidised Rural Air Services in Sabah and Sarawak facilitated travel for more than 800,000 people.
The complimentary MyRailLife pass, which covers KTM Komuter and rail shuttle services across Peninsular Malaysia, benefited more than 350,000 users, including persons with disabilities (PwDs), primary and secondary school students, and children below six years old.
Meanwhile, 73.1% of the RM30mil allocation for district road works had been disbursed as at end-July 2026, with the MYJalan platform helping to ensure timely action on complaints involving road defects and infrastructure issues.
In the housing sector, RM672mil was allocated for the Program Residensi Rakyat (PRR) and Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) projects, which are expected to benefit 33,000 residents. As of the end of August 2026, 60.5% of the allocation, equivalent to more than RM400mil, had been disbursed for projects involving 8,122 units at the planning stage.
Meanwhile, Syarikat Jaminan Kredit Perumahan Berhad (SJKP) is on track to achieve its 2026 target of about RM8bil in total home financing guarantees, with more than 20,000 applications approved as of the end of August 2026, involving total financing of RM5.5bil.
On human development, the report said the government continued to emphasise the importance of building self-identity and strong human values as foundations for a united, progressive and resilient nation, while strengthening social cohesion, good governance and shared values to foster an inclusive and harmonious society.
To uphold Islamic principles, RM35mil was allocated to promote the comprehensive practice of Islam, including a special contribution for 70,000 imams, bilals, siak/noja/marbut and takmir teachers. In addition, RM2mil had been disbursed as of the end of August 2026 for infrastructure upgrades at 27 tahfiz schools offering Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
To strengthen unity and national identity, Budget 2026 allocated RM55mil for national unity and identity programmes and RM60mil for Rukun Tetangga Madani, with 65.9% and 90.5% of the respective allocations spent as of the end of August 2026.
In sports, the report noted that RM70mil was allocated for the Podium Programme, with 52.5% spent as of the end of July 2026. The programme benefited more than 1,000 athletes and coaches through training and participation in domestic and international competitions.
A further RM68mil was allocated for football development programmes encompassing the Program Pembangunan Bola Sepak Negara (PPBN), succession planning and talent development, with 56% disbursed as at the end of July 2026.
In the creative industry, the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), which received RM100mil under Budget 2026, generated approximately RM550mil in investment and created more than 5,500 jobs for Malaysians as of September 2026. Meanwhile, approximately RM40mil was channelled to the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) for rebate payments for the first and second quarters.
The Digital Creative Ecosystem (DICE) initiative received RM20mil and has generated more than 1,600 jobs, trained over 300 participants and supported 20 digital creative startups and 10 digital creative companies. It has also facilitated more than RM350mil in export opportunities for the digital creative industry. - Bernama
