The government proposed another round of special voluntary disclosure programme (SVDP) with full penalty waiver starting June this year till end-2024.

The Inland Revenue Board and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department will be tasked to revive this programme again, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of revised Budget 2023 to Parliament on Friday (Feb 24).

Govt proposes new round of tax amnesty with full penalty waiver

Revised Budget 2023: Full speech of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

DE-CIX, a carrier- and data-centre-neutral internet exchange point headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, believes that the Malaysian government is becoming more committed to advancing its digital infrastructure and its economy.

Putrajaya more committed to advancing digital infrastructure and economy — DE-CIX

Malaysia’s revised Budget 2023 underlined plans to achieve greater savings by reviewing government procurement processes, and spur higher impact investments through targeted incentives for corporations at a time when the nation is “at a critical point in history” to balance fiscal management and growth.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is in his third month in office, also set the tone for the government’s policy in the budget — themed Membangun Malaysia Madani (Developing Malaysia Madani) — that focuses on the redistribution of wealth through income tax adjustments and the introduction of new taxes targeting the higher income group

Anwar’s Budget 2023 hits the right notes, but the test is in the implementation

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 25): RHB Investment Bank Research said consistent with its view, the revised Budget 2023 remains mildly expansionary with no major changes in the policies. The total allocation was revised upward to RM386.1 billion versus RM372.3 billion tabled by the previous government in October 2022.

No major surprises in revised Budget 2023, says RHB IB

Banks in Malaysia believe the Madani Budget has a good balancing act on improving the welfare of the rakyat while supporting the growth of businesses to move Malaysia forward, especially in the post-pandemic era and amid inflationary pressures.

Banks view Madani Budget as having fine balance to help businesses and citizens

Middle-income earners, more commonly known as the M40 group, were specifically mentioned in the revised Budget 2023, as they are also bearing the brunt of the rising cost of living, besides the B40 group.

Revised Budget 2023 offers various perks for M40 group

The government is reducing individual income tax by two percentage points for those in the taxable income bracket of RM35,000-RM100,000 starting this year, in a bid to relieve the burden of rising cost of living faced by the middle 40% household income group (M40).

“The B40 (bottom 40%) is often given various forms of aid, while the M40 has been exhibiting their patience despite being squeezed by the rising cost of living,” he told the Dewan Rakyat in tabling the revised Budget 2023 on Friday (Feb 24).

Tax cut for M40, tax increase for T20

The revised Budget 2023 strikes a balance between the need to support the economy and the commitment on fiscal consolidation, said OCBC Bank.

Chief economist of OCBC Bank Selena Ling in a statement on Friday (Feb 24) said the budget tabled was in line with market and OCBC’s expectation, with a resolve to see the budget deficit reduced to 5% from 5.6% of GDP in 2022.

OCBC Bank: Revised Budget 2023 supports economy, prioritizes fiscal consolidation

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) said that the revised Budget 2023 tabled on Friday (Feb 24) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim lacked support for the manufacturing industry.

“We are disappointed that Budget 2023 has not provided any assistance to support trade for industries to expand their market access as many face severe impact to their existing markets due to the prolonged Ukraine-Russia conflict,” said FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai in a statement.

FMM: Revised Budget 2023 lacks support for manufacturing

The revised Budget 2023 enables inclusive and sustainable economic growth, instils confidence through institutional and governance reforms, as well as advance social justice, said Khazanah Research Institute (KRI).

Revised Budget 2023 ensures inclusive growth for individuals and corporates, says KRI and ICDM

The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) urged the government to implement the Mass Rapid Transit Circle Line (MRT3) project, which will allow the construction industry to benefit from the multiplier effect, following the government’s decision to review the project.

Revised Budget 2023: MBAM urges govt to commence MRT3 project to revive construction sector

The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) has called on the government to include imposing an excise duty on electronic cigarettes and vaping products that do not contain nicotine as part of the revised Budget 2023 proposals.

In welcoming the government’s move to impose an excise duty on e-cigarettes and vaping products containing nicotine, MCTC said: "The government must also acknowledge that a large part of the e-cigarette and vaping product market consists of products which do not contain nicotine, and the consumption of these products make up a large part of the purported RM2 billion per year income reported by the vape industry.

Consider imposing excise duty on no-nicotine e-cigarettes, vapes, MCTC tells Govt

Some government-linked companies (GLCs) and private companies will take over the Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET) programme.

Among them are Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), DRB-Hicom Bhd, Sunway Bhd and Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his speech on the revised Budget 2023.

PM: GLCs and private companies to take over TVET programme

Despite the palm oil industry bending over backwards to green up its act in the last few decades, it is still under fire. Critics cannot shake the image of palm oil as the nemesis of biodiversity, or worse, the big bad wolf of tropical deforestation. No matter how hard palm oil producers try to p...

Bullish On Green: Palm oil is green, but still seen as grey

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong said it is time for Malaysia to see biomass as the feedstock for new and advanced fuels and other green industries.

Timely for Malaysia to see biomass as feedstock for advance fuels — Liew

Hong Kong stocks are on their longest-winning streak since 2018, adding to signs that a recovery in one of the worst-performing markets last year is well underway.

Hong Kong stocks are on their longest winning streak since 2018

(May 3): A couple of years ago Clive Cowdery had a problem. The large life insurer that he’d founded was amassing customer cash faster than it could find ways to put that hoard to work.

As payments piled up at Resolution Life, two of every three dollars sat idle. The company decide...

Blackstone taps vast source of cash in $1 trillion credit push

PUTRAJAYA (May 3): A convenience store in Precinct 3 here was raided by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living on Thursday (May 2), for suspected sale of food products with the words “no palm oil” (NPO) written on the product’s plastic packaging.

Domestic Trade Ministry raids premises selling products with ‘no palm oil’ label

Teen apparel retailer rue21 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a third time on Thursday, seeking to shut down its 540 stores and sell its intellectual property.

Apparel retailer rue21 files for third bankruptcy, will close all stores

Deutsche Bank AG plans to double the assets it manages for rich families in Southeast Asia and the Middle East over the next five years, tapping growing ties between ultra-rich clans in both regions, the lender’s global private banking head said.

Deutsche Bank unveils wealth targets after hiring push in Asia

Peloton Interactive Inc shares fell to a record low after chief executive officer Barry McCarthy announced plans to step down and the struggling fitness company embarked on a major restructuring that will reduce its global workforce by 15%.

Peloton tumbles to record low after announcing CEO exit, layoffs

Asian stocks rallied on Friday after Apple's record US$110 billion (RM523.15 billion) share buyback plan lifted the tech sector, while the yen put more distance from recent 34-year lows to cap a tumultuous week that saw suspected interventions from Tokyo.

Asian stocks surge on tech boost; yen extends gains to cap wild week

Malaysia’s planned increase in civil servant salaries will boost earnings of RCE Capital Bhd, which mainly provides consumer financing to government employees, Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) said and upgraded the stock to ‘buy’.

Higher civil servant salaries will boost RCE Capital's earnings, says Maybank IB

KUALA LUMPUR (May 2): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Yinson Holdings Bhd has closed the limited recourse term loan facility of up to US$1.3 billion (RM6.2 billion) for the financing of its Ago...

Yinson, Protasco, LCTitan, Westports, UOA REIT, Frontken, Pasukhas, BHIC, JAKS, Epicon, Sarawak Cable, Annum, Aldrich, Ajinomoto, Ageson and SMI

Shares of Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd surged to their highest in nearly six years after the food and seasoning company announced the ex-date for its special dividend.

Ajinomoto Malaysia surges to highest in nearly six years

Asian stocks rallied on Friday after Apple's record US$110 billion (RM523.15 billion) share buyback plan lifted the tech sector, while the yen put more distance from recent 34-year lows to cap a tumultuous week that saw suspected interventions from Tokyo.

The rally in tech heavyweights extended into late hours after better-than-estimated results from&nbsp;Apple Inc, with the iPhone maker also raising its dividend and announcing plans to buy back more stock.

Tech jumps in late hours on Apple’s solid outlook

Malaysia’s planned increase in civil servant salaries will boost earnings of RCE Capital Bhd, which mainly provides consumer financing to government employees, Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) said and upgraded the stock to ‘buy’.

The Penang government plans to hold a workshop with stakeholders to finalise the Penang Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project following minor amendments to the original plan.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the workshop is expected to be held within a week or two so that further work involving the transformative infrastructure project can be carried out.

Penang to hold workshop with stakeholders to finalise Mutiara Line LRT alignment

Türkiye&nbsp;stopped all exports and imports to and from Israel as of Thursday, the Turkish trade ministry said, citing a "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in the Palestinian territories.

Türkiye halts all trade with Israel, cites worsening Palestinian situation

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes are set to be enhanced to address the shortage of 30,000 engineers in the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He also emphasised the importance of focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to keep pace with current demands.

TVET in Malaysia to be enhanced to address shortage of 30,000 engineers — PM

Apple's quarterly results and forecast beat modest expectations on Thursday, as the iPhone maker unveiled a record share buyback program, sending its stock up almost 7% in extended trade.

Apple unveils record US$110b buyback as results beat low expectations

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he has encouraged Japan and Qatar to explore investment opportunities in Kelantan.

As the country's leader, he said that he will always strive to help develop all states in Malaysia.

PM encourages Japan, Qatar to explore investment in Kelantan

Ageson Bhd said Virdos Lima Consultancy (M) Sdn Bhd (VL Consultancy) is in the final stage of completing its independent assessment report on the matters raised by its external auditor in its financial statements for the 18-month financial period ended Dec 31, 2022 (FPE2022).

Ageson says independent review of audit issues raised by its auditor now in final stages

Frontken Bhd expects a stronger performance in the second half of this year (2HFY2024) after its first quarter results came in within expectations, according to Philip Capital.

Frontken expects stronger performance in 2H — Philip Capital

Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd (LC Titan) is expected to face widening core losses in the second quarter ending June 30, 2024 (2QFY2024) from lower sales volume and weak product spread, according to TA Securities.

Lotte Chemical Titan to face widening losses in 2QFY2024 on lower volume, weak product spread, says TA Securities

Wall Street's main indexes advanced on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and signaled a dovish tilt, with focus moving to a crucial job report later in the week.

While Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that stubbornly high inflation would see a long-expected US rate cut pushed back, he refused to entertain talk that rates might actually need to go up again.

Wall Street gains on Fed's dovish signals

Peloton Interactive Inc shares fell to a record low after chief executive officer Barry McCarthy announced plans to step down and the struggling fitness company embarked on a major restructuring that will reduce its global workforce by 15%.

Analysts anticipate continuous growth for Westports Holdings Bhd for the rest of the year on the back of sustained trade activities in the regional economies and multi-year high foreign direct investment (FDI).

Analysts upbeat on Westports’ outlook amid multi-year high FDI

The presence of and commitment shown by the Unity Government party machinery campaigning in the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election to ensure victory for its candidate is clear proof of the government's integrity.

KKB polls: Presence of party machinery is proof of Unity Government's togetherness — Zambry

Bill Gross, who pioneered the “total return” strategy in the 1980s that revolutionized the bond market, says the approach is now defunct.

Bill Gross says ‘total return’ strategy he pioneered is ‘dead’

Bond traders pulled forward expectations for the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) first full interest-rate cut by a month to November ahead of a key US jobs report on Friday.

Traders pull forward first full Fed rate cut to November ahead of jobs

The options market is betting that stocks will swing widely after Friday’s US jobs report, which traders expect will offer more clarity on how much the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates this year.

The S&amp;P 500 Index is expected to move 1.2% in either direction after the release, based on the cost of at-the-money puts and calls expiring Friday, according to Stuart Kaiser, Citigroup Inc’s head of US equity trading strategy. That figure, based on the prices of S&amp;P straddles as of Wednesday’s close, is the largest implied swing ahead of an employment report since March 2023, he said.

Revised Budget 2023

‌‌

‌
‌