KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed almost flat on Tuesday as buying interest rotated away from index heavyweights towards smaller-cap construction stocks, with sentiment affected by geopolitical uncertainty, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.39 of a point to 1,714.40 from Monday’s close of 1,714.79. The benchmark index opened 1.65 points lower at 1,713.14 and moved between 1,710.44 and 1,714.50 throughout the trading session. The broader market was almost evenly balanced, with decliners leading gainers 548 to 546, while 598 counters were unchanged, 1,107 were untraded and 25 were suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.13 billion units valued at RM3.14 billion from 3.60 billion units valued at RM2.45 billion on Monday.
The governance pillar of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework, often overshadowed by its environmental and social counterparts, is receiving greater emphasis under Malaysia’s Budget 2025 . These reforms are aimed at ensuring transparency , accountability , and socio-economic equity , creating a foundation for a more resilient and inclusive Malaysia . Key Highlights of Governance Reforms 1. Fiscal Responsibility and Subsidy Reforms The government is narrowing the fiscal deficit to 3.8% of GDP in 2025 (from 4.3% in 2024). Subsidy Rationalisation : Phasing out blanket subsidies in favor of targeted assistance to benefit vulnerable groups. Savings will increase Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah allocation from RM8 billion to RM10 billion , supporting 9 million recipients. Revenue Boost: Sales and Service Tax (SST) expansion. 2% dividend tax on income exceeding RM100,000 annually. 2. Pub...