The 2027 Budget is designed to improve the quality of life and ensure social justice for all Malaysians, through a development approach that takes into account the needs of different groups, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the government was not focused solely on headline figures and strategic sectors, but was also looking at the everyday needs of the people, including persons with disabilities, gig workers and food and goods delivery riders. “In any planning, the ultimate aim is to ensure the people’s quality of life… we want a system that guarantees a comfortable and fair life for everyone,” he said in a special interview on the 2027 Budget aired on RTM, as NST reported.
Anwar stressed that the 2027 Budget was not intended to solve every problem, but represented steps taken by the government to ease the burden on the people. He said the government also needed to understand the challenges faced by rural communities, including padi farmers and fishermen, who continued to grapple with income constraints and limited access to certain facilities.
“In the cities, we do not have padi fields, but we know that people in padi-growing areas still face problems, while some coastal fishermen do not have licences… to issue licences, we need to consider the limited fish stocks,” he said. The government therefore needed a balanced solution that would give fishermen some additional flexibility to earn a living without compromising the sustainability of fisheries resources.
Anwar described the spending plan as a covenant between the country, its leadership and the people. “This means a promise, pledge or oath between the country, its leadership and the people. So, we listened to hundreds, and perhaps even more, views from various groups,” he said in the same RTM interview, The Edge Malaysia noted. He said the budget extended beyond major matters such as driving high economic growth, to newer issues such as the welfare of gig workers, e-hailing riders and minimum income. “The economy may be thriving, but the people may still be burdened,” he said.
These efforts are part of a broader agenda to improve quality of life and strengthen social justice, rather than benefit any single group. The Madani Economic Framework would continue to combine high-impact development aspirations with the people’s basic needs, in line with the theme of the 2027 Budget, “Reaching for the Skies, While Anchored on Our Values”. The approach was important to ensure the country’s economic progress was measured not only by macroeconomic achievements but also by the benefits felt in people’s daily lives.
On 9 October, Anwar tabled the Supply Bill (Budget) 2027 with government expenditure totalling RM459.8 billion. Added to that are RM25 billion in investments from government-linked investment companies, RM11 billion in public-private investments and RM14.2 billion from federal statutory bodies and Minister of Finance Incorporated companies, bringing the total 2027 Budget figure to RM510 billion, maintaining an expansionary fiscal policy.
The fifth Madani Budget aims to turn the country’s steady economic growth into tangible benefits for the people through better wages, more precisely targeted assistance, stronger fiscal discipline and a faster push towards higher-value industries. Anwar said the government would continue to listen to the people’s views and concerns to ensure the policies and allocations under the 2027 Budget addressed their current needs, and that every aspect of the budget should contribute to a more comfortable, fair and dignified life for all Malaysians.
