Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan delivered a keynote speech today during the Budget Engagement Session in Putrajaya, presenting key priorities for Malaysia's Budget 2027 [1, 2, 3, 4].

Budget 2027 aims to enhance Malaysia’s economic competitiveness by improving regulatory frameworks, facilitating investment, digitising public services, and cutting bureaucratic red tape [1, 2, 3, 4]. The government will prioritize strategic sectors including semiconductors, energy transition, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and Islamic finance to drive higher-value growth [1, 2, 3, 4].

Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah said, "The government remains committed to strengthening the country's economic competitiveness by encouraging high-quality investments, increasing productivity and accelerating the development of strategic sectors that are capable of generating added value, high-income jobs and sustainable economic growth" [3].

The budget also focuses on empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups. The government will improve MSMEs’ access to financing, promote digitalisation and innovation, and support market expansion to increase exports under the 'Made by Malaysia' initiative. "The Government is empowering MSMEs and start-ups as drivers of domestic economic growth by increasing access to financing, digitalisation, innovation and market expansion so that more local products and services can penetrate global value chains as Made by Malaysia," Amir Hamzah stated [4].

Social protection measures will be reinforced through partnerships with NGOs and civil society to assist vulnerable groups [2, 3, 4]. Targeted aid programs such as the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) will see allocations rise from RM10 billion in 2024 to RM15 billion in 2027. These programs are expected to benefit 22 million Malaysians aged 18 and above [2]. Amir Hamzah noted, "Although the country's achievements are encouraging, they become meaningless if the people are still struggling with the cost of living" [2].

Budget 2027 also aims to enhance public services, concentrating on education, healthcare, and human capital development as part of inclusive growth under the 13th Malaysia Plan [1, 3, 4]. Efforts will emphasize raising incomes, creating quality jobs, and addressing cost-of-living challenges through targeted and sustainable policies [1, 2, 3, 4].

The Finance Minister concluded, "The main objective is to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are felt more comprehensively by all segments of society" [1].

Budget 2027 is scheduled to be tabled in Malaysia's Parliament on October 9, 2026 [1, 2, 4].