Bersama to unveil shadow budget on Oct 6

Bersama party leader Rafizi Ramli announced plans to unveil a shadow budget on October 6, outlining measures to enhance government revenue and prioritize spending. During a press conference, Rafizi highlighted the need to scrutinize Malaysia's current taxation system, which he suggested was largely inherited from previous administrations.

The former economy minister emphasized that the shadow budget's objective was to demonstrate to the public how the government's fiscal capacity could be utilized and how revenue could be enhanced. Rafizi also pointed out that unlike in some other nations, Malaysia lacks an independent body to assess the cost of political parties' election pledges, enabling parties to make unfettered promises.

To differentiate itself from other parties, Bersama plans to release a series of policy papers starting September 27, addressing structural economic, political, and social challenges. Rafizi expressed hope that Bersama's approach would prompt other parties to compete based on policies and solutions, rather than on racial or religious divisions. The 2027 federal budget is set to be presented in Parliament on October 9.