Malaysia’s 2027 Budget Tour Seeks Grassroots Input, Economists Stress Need for Action
The Finance Ministry’s nationwide tour to gather feedback for the 2027 Budget could shift budgeting to a bottom-up approach, but economists warn real impact depends on converting suggestions into concrete policies.
Ahead of the 2027 Budget, the Finance Ministry is conducting a country-wide tour to collect opinions from industry groups, NGOs and ordinary citizens. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the insights will be examined for possible inclusion, with other proposals referred to relevant ministries. Economists like Associate Professor Dr Aimi Zulhazmi Abdul Rashid argue that direct engagement could move budgeting away from a traditionally top-down model, giving policymakers a clearer view of sector-specific challenges—from SMEs in Shah Alam to fishermen in Terengganu and startups in Penang.
They also note that such dialogue can help fine-tune measures such as carbon taxes or targeted subsidies, boosting compliance and public acceptance. However, both Aimi and senior lecturer Dr Mohamad Idham Md Razak warn the tour must produce tangible outcomes, urging the government to publish which suggestions are adopted and to focus spending on productivity-enhancing areas rather than large new commitments. They stress the need for careful fiscal prioritisation amid debt-service pressures and volatile oil prices, recommending revenue-raising through better compliance and investment in automation, digitalisation, and emerging sectors like the Low Altitude Economy.
