SHAH ALAM, Oct 10 — Budget 2026, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today, sets Malaysia on the right path to accelerating economic growth and strengthening the people’s socioeconomic well-being.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said this is crucial to protecting the national economy from external fluctuations, allowing local workers and small and medium enterprises to grow sustainably.
"The increase in allocation from RM452 billion this year to RM470 billion next year shows that the Federal government is serious about actively shaping the nation’s economy, while continuing to reduce leakages and enhance spending efficiency.
"This budget reflects the current national priorities while taking into account today’s global challenges, and I believe that the strategies outlined will safeguard the socioeconomic needs and well-being of the people in the year ahead," he said in a statement.
Among other things, the Gombak MP commended the government for increasing the allocation for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) next year to RM15 billion, up from RM13 billion, to help address rising living costs.
Amirudin also welcomed the government's decision to increase the education budget by RM2 billion to RM66.2 billion, including for the construction of nine new schools in Selangor.
The addition of 310 new buses and 300 vans to improve first- and last-mile connectivity will also encourage more Selangor residents to transition to public transport.
He also took particular note of the Federal government’s recognition of the Selangor Aero Park (SAP), developed in collaboration with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), which aims to position Malaysia as a regional hub for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), logistics, and cargo operations.
Separately, Amirudin welcomed the move to provide a RM3,000 income tax relief to women with young children to help ease the cost of childcare centre fees, describing it as a progressive measure that will encourage more women to continue their careers after childbirth.
"Additionally, the introduction of income tax relief for parents of children with autism, aimed at supporting diagnosis and early detection, is a crucial step that will not only enable earlier intervention but also help reduce the financial burden of medical expenses,” he said.
The Menteri Besar said the increased allocation for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as the proposal for a TVET Act, are appropriate to ensure the younger generation can benefit from such programmes and be offered high-paying jobs.
"In addition, public healthcare will be strengthened to tackle issues such as overcrowding in government hospitals by enhancing the role of health clinics, enabling them to provide specialist services and function more efficiently as the frontline agencies in public health,” he said.
