Budget 2027: From household relief to sustainable growth — Goh Lim Thye

OCT 17 — Budget 2027 represents an important effort to balance the immediate needs of Malaysian households with the country’s longer-term economic aspirations. Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, rising business costs and continued pressure on household expenditure, the budget places considerable emphasis on protecting purchasing power while creating opportunities for more sustainable and inclusive growth. With federal expenditure of RM459.8 billion, comprising RM376.8 billion in operating expenditure and RM83 billion in development expenditure, Budget 2027 reflects the government’s commitment to supporting household welfare, strengthening public services and investing in Malaysia’s economic future.

In my view, the significance of this budget lies not merely in the financial assistance provided to households, but also in its broader efforts to strengthen the country’s productive capacity. A successful budget should address today’s economic pressures while creating the conditions for better incomes, stronger businesses and greater economic opportunities tomorrow.

Protecting households while strengthening purchasing power

One of the most important features of Budget 2027 is its continued emphasis on addressing the cost of living. The increase in the combined allocation for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) to RM16 billion, compared with RM15 billion previously, provides additional support to households facing financial pressures. The increase in individual income tax relief from RM9,000 to RM12,000, alongside reductions in selected personal income tax rates, also extends support to middle-income households. This is particularly relevant because financial pressures are not confined to lower-income groups, as many middle-income families face substantial commitments relating to housing, education, healthcare and transportation.

From an economic perspective, these measures can help sustain household consumption, which remains an important driver of domestic economic activity, while targeted assistance protects vulnerable households against unexpected increases in living costs. However, I believe the longer-term significance of household assistance should extend beyond immediate financial relief. While social protection remains essential, sustainable improvements in living standards ultimately depend on stronger real wages, better employment opportunities and higher productivity. The objective should therefore be to complement financial assistance with initiatives that enable households to become more economically resilient and less vulnerable to future economic shocks.

Empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening domestic businesses

Another encouraging aspect of Budget 2027 is its emphasis on entrepreneurship and business development. The RM6.6 billion in microfinancing, RM450 million in start-up investments and RM32 billion in business financing guarantees demonstrate the government’s intention to improve access to capital and encourage enterprise development. The proposed reduction in tax rates for eligible micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) also provides opportunities for businesses to retain more earnings for reinvestment, technological upgrading and expansion. Having observed economic development from both industry and academic perspectives, I believe entrepreneurship support should be viewed as more than simply providing financial assistance to businesses.

Access to financing is important, but financing alone does not guarantee business growth. Entrepreneurs also require access to technology, skilled workers, market information and opportunities to participate in larger supply chains.

In my view, the next stage of MSME development should focus on helping businesses move beyond survival towards expansion and greater competitiveness. This means encouraging enterprises to improve productivity, adopt new technologies, develop innovative products and explore regional and international markets. Such efforts are particularly relevant as Malaysia continues to attract foreign direct investment into strategic industries, including semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and digital services. While attracting foreign investment is important, the economic benefits can be significantly greater when multinational corporations establish meaningful relationships with domestic enterprises.

Stronger supplier development programmes, technology transfer and business matching initiatives can help Malaysian firms participate in higher-value segments of regional and global supply chains.

Ultimately, the success of entrepreneurship initiatives should not be measured solely by the amount of financing disbursed or the number of businesses assisted. More meaningful indicators would include improvements in productivity, business expansion, export participation and the creation of quality employment opportunities. This would ensure that public support contributes not only to business survival but also to the development of a stronger and more competitive domestic business ecosystem.

Green energy as a new engine of economic growth

Budget 2027’s emphasis on green technology and energy security is another important development. The extension of green investment tax incentives until 2030 provides businesses with greater certainty when planning long-term investments in sustainable technologies. The planned RM15 billion investment by Tenaga Nasional Berhad to strengthen the national electricity grid is also significant, particularly as Malaysia seeks to attract more investments in advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and other technology-intensive industries. In my opinion, the transition towards green energy should not be viewed solely as an environmental commitment. It also represents an opportunity for economic transformation.

As global industries increasingly adopt cleaner technologies and more stringent sustainability standards, demand for renewable energy, energy-efficient equipment and related services is expected to expand. Malaysia has an opportunity to position itself within these emerging industries by developing domestic capabilities in engineering, manufacturing, technology and supporting services. More importantly, green investments can create opportunities for local enterprises to participate in new supply chains, encouraging innovation and generating skilled employment. However, these benefits will be greater if domestic businesses are equipped with the technological capabilities, financing and skilled workforce needed to participate meaningfully in emerging green industries.

The transition also has important implications for Malaysia’s energy security. Recent volatility in global energy markets has demonstrated the importance of strengthening domestic energy infrastructure and diversifying energy sources. By improving energy resilience while supporting the development of green industries, Malaysia can strengthen its competitiveness and reduce exposure to external economic disruptions. The opportunity therefore extends beyond generating cleaner energy to building a more resilient and technologically advanced economy.

Investing in human capital and higher-quality employment

Human capital development remains fundamental to Malaysia’s long-term economic transformation. Budget 2027’s emphasis on education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), digital capabilities and artificial intelligence reflect the growing importance of preparing workers for a more technology-driven economy. Initiatives such as Bakat MADANI, which targets 30,000 employment opportunities, can help strengthen the connection between education, skills development and labour market needs. From my perspective, improving workers’ earnings requires more than adjustments to minimum wages. While wage policies can play an important role in protecting workers, sustainable wage growth must ultimately be supported by improvements in productivity.

Businesses that adopt advanced technologies, improve operational efficiency and move into higher-value activities are generally better positioned to offer more competitive wages. This highlights the importance of ensuring that education and training programmes remain closely aligned with industry requirements. Greater collaboration between universities, training institutions and businesses can help address skills mismatches while preparing graduates for emerging employment opportunities. At the same time, the government’s emphasis on infrastructure development and public services remains important. Better transportation, digital connectivity, healthcare and education can improve economic participation, particularly among communities outside major urban centres. Such investments contribute not only to social well-being but also to economic efficiency by improving labour mobility, reducing business costs and expanding access to opportunities.

Turning today’s support into tomorrow’s opportunities

Human capital development remains fundamental to Malaysia’s long-term economic transformation. — Pexels pic

Taken together, Budget 2027 reflects an approach that combines immediate household assistance with investments in entrepreneurship, green energy, industrial development and human capital. I believe this combination is important because social protection and economic growth should not be viewed as competing priorities. Instead, they should complement one another. Financial assistance helps households manage immediate pressures, while investments in businesses, technology and workforce capabilities create opportunities for stronger income growth over time. The real economic value of Budget 2027 will therefore depend on how effectively these initiatives translate into measurable improvements in household welfare, business competitiveness and employment quality.

Looking ahead, sustaining these initiatives will require continued attention to fiscal resilience. With federal revenue projected to increase by 4.7% to RM380.8 billion in 2027, prudent expenditure management and effective implementation will remain important. The government’s commitment to narrowing the fiscal deficit from 3.6% to 3.3% of GDP reflects an effort to balance development priorities with fiscal discipline. In my view, the most sustainable approach is to ensure that public spending not only addresses immediate needs but also strengthens future economic activity and revenue-generating capacity. By translating investments in entrepreneurship, green technology and human capital into higher productivity, better employment and stronger domestic enterprises, Malaysia can progressively broaden its economic and fiscal foundations.

Ultimately, Budget 2027 should not be judged solely by the amount of assistance distributed or the size of its allocations, but by the opportunities it creates for Malaysians. Its greatest contribution will be realised when today’s household relief becomes tomorrow’s higher incomes, more competitive businesses and improved living standards. This is how a budget can move beyond immediate assistance towards truly sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

*The author is a senior lecturer at the Department of Economics, Universiti Malaya, and can be reached at [email protected].

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.