Business : MOF's Budget Tour To Get Industrial, NGO And People's Input - Amir Hamzah

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 14 — The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is embarking on a nationwide budget tour to collect input from various sectors, including industry players, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and members of the public, in preparation for Budget 2027. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan revealed that the tour aims to gain insights into the needs of key sectors in each state and obtain feedback from parties directly impacted by government policies and allocations.

"We are visiting every state to understand the industries that are important," he stated to reporters after visiting Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Mashoor (Girls) in Penang. The ministry is prioritising the Penang tour due to its significance in the electrical and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor sectors, as well as the medical devices industry, given Malaysia's strong export record in both fields.

"This is one of the high-value economic sectors with the potential to boost domestic employment by creating better jobs here," Amir Hamzah emphasized. Upcoming destinations include Sabah and Perak, where the focus will be on the blue (maritime-based) economy and automotive sectors. The gathered views will be thoroughly examined through focus group sessions and stakeholder meetings, with some proposals potentially incorporated into the budget, while others will be discussed with the relevant ministries and agencies.

"By focusing on specific groups, we have enhanced the budget's quality by incorporating proposals from the industry, NGOs, and the public," Amir Hamzah concluded, ensuring that the budget is comprehensive and inclusive across all sectors.