{
  "id": 13307483,
  "title": "2027 Budget offers hope for meaningful reforms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/2027-budget-offers-hope-for-meaningful-reforms",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-10T02:42:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1552200/2027-budget-offers-hope-meaningful-reforms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2027 budget presented by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim could pave the way for substantial reforms, according to former finance minister Lim Guan Eng. Lim praised the budget for its focus on strengthening social protection, promoting inclusivity, and rectifying past tax injustices.\n\nHe highlighted the inclusion of vulnerable groups like gig economy workers, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens in the social safety net expansion. Lim also appreciated efforts to allocate funds more inclusively and modify personal tax rates to address past injustices. However, he pointed out the need for a fairer distribution of public funds, particularly for non-Bumiputera communities who have historically been neglected by previous governments.\n\nLim expressed optimism that initial steps towards budgetary reform were encouraging. He suggested future reforms should concentrate on alleviating cost-of-living increases, fostering sustainable economic growth, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises, and generating prosperity for all Malaysians. He emphasized that increasing money in Malaysian households should be a primary goal to help people manage rising living costs and support overall economic well-being.",
  "summary": "GEORGE TOWN: The 2027 Budget offers hope for meaningful reforms, with measures to strengthen social protection, promote inclusivity and address past tax injustices, former finance minister Lim Guan Eng said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "SME association says Budget 2027 offers support, but warns of ‘cumulative’ cost pressures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/sme-association-says-budget-2027-offers-support-but-warns-of",
        "published": "2026-10-10T02:28:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}