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.
Malaysia has officially scrapped its plan for a high-value goods tax (HVGT), opting instead to tax luxury items at 5% or 10% under the existing sales tax system. The decision is part of wider fiscal reforms aimed at boosting national revenue. Other tax measures, including a capital gains tax, an expanded sales and service tax, and a low-value goods tax, are expected to add RM500 million to RM10 billion annually to government coffers. As of June 2025, Malaysia’s federal debt reached RM1.3 trillion , up from RM1.25 trillion at the end of 2024. However, the growth rate is slowing, with projections dropping to 6% in 2025 as the government focuses on revenue expansion, optimized spending, and targeted borrowing for high-impact projects. Market Overview: FBM KLCI : 1,523.82 (-0.36%) Top Gainer: PCHEM RM3.79 (+4.99%) Top Loser: IOICORP RM3.75 (-2.85%) USD/MYR: 4.2354 (+0.06%) Investor sentiment on Bursa Malaysia remained cautious amid...