Hanoi:He said Budget 2027 has allocated approximately RM83 billion in development expenditure to maintain the momentum of national development, highlighting that the country’s fiscal capacity is reliant on income and revenue generated through economic growth.

While subsidies are crucial for protecting the rakyat, he emphasized the need to ensure that impactful development projects can proceed. Akmal made these remarks at the iFUTURE 2026 International Young Future Leaders Summit, where he commented on the Budget 2027, which was presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Strengthening domestic resilience is vital in the face of global uncertainties, Akmal noted, with the budget aiming to maintain progress achieved in recent years. He stressed that development should benefit ordinary Malaysians, including through wage measures to provide fair remuneration to workers.

Regarding the exemption of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from implementing the RM2,000 minimum wage, Akmal explained that the current implementation applies to companies with revenue exceeding RM50 million.

He also addressed wage progression, cautioning that raising the minimum wage could lead to wage compression if higher salary grades do not increase proportionately. Akmal suggested that the relevant ministry devise a mechanism to ensure that wage increases are balanced, benefiting workers at all levels, including those with qualifications.