PUTRAJAYA, August 7 — Budget 2026, which will be tabled this October in the Dewan Rakyat, marks the first budget to support the goals of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and will focus on three main pillars, namely raising the ceiling, raising the floor, and strengthening good governance in the public administration.
According to the Parliamentary Calendar, Budget 2026 will be presented on October 10.
Minister of Finance II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, said that in raising the ceiling, the government aims to enhance the country's competitiveness and support high-growth, high-value sectors, particularly the semiconductor industry, energy transition, and Islamic economy.
He added that the government will also continue to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises as well as startups, to become producers of 'Made by Malaysia' products and services.
"The digital and artificial intelligence agenda continues to be prioritised, alongside efforts to nurture creativity and promote value-based economic growth," he said in his speech at the inaugural Budget 2026 Engagement Council today.
The event was also attended by the chief secretary to the government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar; the secretary-general of the treasury, Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican; the director-general of public service, Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz; the governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour; and the executive chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia, Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi.
Nearly 300 participants attended the event, representing public service institutions, industry players, chambers of commerce, technocrats, economists, scholars, non-governmental organisations, and international organisations.
“Raising the ceiling” refers to the strategy of enhancing the country’s potential and competitiveness through investment in innovation, technology, and talent development, while “raising the floor” means strengthening the delivery of basic government services such as education and healthcare to ensure no one is left behind.
This approach aligns with the objectives of 13MP to promote more inclusive and equitable development.
“With the presence of representatives from NGOs and social associations, we can work together to identify holistic ways to support the most vulnerable communities, while also strengthening the social protection network,” Amir Hamzah said.
He said increasing people’s income and alleviating the cost of living pressures will continue to be among the government’s main focuses in Budget 2026.
On governance, Amir Hamzah said the government welcomes input from all quarters to further improve public service delivery and enhance the ease of doing business.
“I welcome the active participation of all stakeholders in providing feedback, which will serve as a vital foundation for the preparation of Budget 2026.
“I hope today’s session will serve as a strategic platform for us to collectively shape the nation’s future direction by formulating insightful inputs to draft the high-impact Budget 2026, aimed at Malaysia’s comprehensive development,” he said.
He added that the government also invites all Malaysians to submit proposals via the Budget 2026 Proposal Portal on the Finance Ministry website.
Amir Hamzah said the Budget 2026 Engagement Council meeting today marks the start of the Budget 2026 preparation process, to ensure the fourth Madani budget reflects the people’s aspirations and is developed with public participation — ultimately producing a people-centric budget.
