KUALA LUMPUR: Planned budget adjustments for the Health and Higher Education Ministries have been scaled back to a combined RM1.68bil.
The government said core services, including public healthcare and university operations, will not be affected.
According to the Finance Ministry, RM482mil had been identified for adjustment at the Health Ministry, compared with an initial proposal of RM3.1bil.
For the Higher Education Ministry, RM1.2bil will be adjusted from an initial proposed RM2.4bil.
The ministry also said that there would be no blanket restriction on the two ministries’ 2026 allocations. The adjustments would involve non-critical expenditure, including programmes, seminars, official functions and overseas travel.
“Any spending adjustment will be made without affecting core services to the people,” it said in a written parliamentary reply on Thursday (Oct 22).
Savings would come from reducing or rescheduling less critical activities, including seminars, functions and travel, as well as postponing non-urgent asset purchases, subject to existing commitments.
The Finance Ministry said the restrictions also covered unfilled posts under the salaries and wages allocation, services and supplies, assets, as well as federal statutory bodies under the Higher Education Ministry.
It said the measures were not intended to reduce the government’s commitment to healthcare and education, but to ensure public funds were used efficiently.
The reply was to Saratok MP Datuk Ali Anak Biju, who asked how the government would ensure fiscal adjustments involving allocations for the two ministries would not affect the quality of services at public hospitals and local universities.
