Dewan Rakyat passes Budget 2026

 

PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Supply Bill 2026 by a majority voice vote from MPs.

Speaker Johari Abdul called for the vote today after Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz concluded his winding-up speech on the bill, following 15 days of debates and winding-up sessions by ministries, beginning Nov 5.

Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan then tabled the bill for its third reading, after which it was declared that it had been passed with a clear majority.

Budget 2026 will now be presented to the Dewan Negara, and upon receiving the upper house’s approval, it will then be submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for royal assent.

Parliament had earlier passed the Supply Bill 2026 at the policy level via a bloc vote on Nov 4.

Anwar Ibrahim tabled the budget on Oct 10

At the time, the bill received 120 votes in agreement and 67 opposing, with 35 MPs absent during the bloc vote called by opposition chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu).

On Oct 10, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, tabled Budget 2026, with the allocation for the national budget standing at RM419.2 billion - RM1.8 billion less than the last budget.

Besides reducing spending due to pressure from global oil prices, Putrajaya has also prioritised expenditure on healthcare and education, with RM46.5 billion and RM66.2 billion allocated for the Health Ministry and Education Ministry, respectively, alongside expanded aid for students, teachers, and health workers.

Budget 2026, which marks the fourth budget presented by the Madani government under Anwar’s leadership, is the first aligned with the 13th Malaysia Plan.

In presenting the budget, Anwar said spending by GLICs, statutory bodies, and public-private investments would provide the government with an additional RM50.8 billion for public initiatives.

Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, however, had cautioned that the move could negatively impact strategic companies involved in the matter. - Mkini