MONEY MASTER

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is stepping up efforts to evaluate tokenisation and central bank digital currency (CBDC) applications as part of Malaysia’s broader digital finance agenda, according to a Finance Ministry (MOF) statement to Parliament. Tokenisation Initiatives BNM is working with industry experts through the  Asset Tokenisation Industry Working Group forum  to explore applications of tokenisation via a co-creation approach. The recently launched  Digital Asset Innovation Hub (DAIH)  is also supporting pilot projects to test tokenisation use cases and assess risks. Key areas of focus include: Risk management:  addressing operational and technology vulnerabilities. Compliance:  ensuring adherence to AML/CFT frameworks. Interoperability:  overcoming potential fragmentation across platforms. BNM will publish a  discussion paper in 2H2025  on tokenisation of financial instruments, including  tokenised deposits and  ringgit-back...

The  final day of the Dewan Rakyat sitting  will spotlight key topics, including the future of the franchise industry, flood aid for farmers, and the  establishment of the Malaysian Ombudsman . Key Highlights: 1. Franchise Industry Development Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong)  will address: Statistics on franchise entrepreneurs  in Malaysia. Malaysia’s role in shaping international franchise regulations as the chair of the  Asia-Pacific Franchise Confederation’s annual meeting . Measures to enhance the  global competitiveness  of the Malaysian franchise industry. 2. Flood Aid for Farmers Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai)  will: Query the  minister of agriculture and food security  on ensuring timely and fair aid distribution to farmers affected by floods. Highlight concerns about  leakages and unfair practices  in the aid distribution mechanism. 3. Malaysian Ombudsman Teresa Kok Suh Sim (PH-Seputeh)  will: Seek an u...

The Malaysian government is set to launch a Cost of Living Indicator (IKSH) to design more targeted subsidy programmes tailored to the specific needs and spending habits of Malaysians, according to Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali , Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN). Key Highlights Purpose of IKSH Refines subsidy programmes to ensure aid reaches those most in need. Enhances both existing and future initiatives for better planning and execution. Budget Allocation RM700 million allocated under Budget 2025 to implement new measures aimed at easing the cost of living. Supports region-specific programmes and improves current initiatives for target groups. Targeted Subsidies and Costs Addressing concerns over targeted diesel subsidies, the minister noted that price increases are driven by demand and supply factors , not subsidies. Stakeholders are encouraged to report any suspected price hikes related to subsidies for investigation. Goals of the IKSH Focuses on addressing basic n...

Key Takeaway: Monday’s Dewan Rakyat session will highlight efforts to preserve local culture , support autism centres , and address industrial challenges amid global economic pressures. The Dewan Rakyat agenda today includes discussions on preserving local values and culture , especially in the absence of an AI regulatory framework . Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya) will address this issue in a question to the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang . Other key topics include: Autism Centre Expansion: Datuk Dr Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus) will ask the Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development about plans to increase the number of autism centres and provide assistance to private operators . Industry Protection: Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN-Simpang Renggam) seeks insights from the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz , on shielding local industries from overcapacity in China’s manufacturing sector....

The government anticipates raising an extra RM5 billion by broadening the sales and service tax (SST) scope starting May 1, 2025, according to Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan . The expanded SST will increase revenue projections to RM51.7 billion , compared to RM46.7 billion currently forecast for 2025. To prevent impacting low-income groups, essential food items will be exempt from sales tax. The expanded service tax will focus on business-to-business (B2B) services , such as fee-based financial services for businesses, excluding individual consumers. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier revealed that the sales tax would apply mainly to non-essential imported goods, including premium items like salmon and avocados . Amir emphasized that SST expansion will proceed progressively to avoid undue public burden, with ongoing stakeholder consultations to finalize details. Part of the SST revenue will support cash assistance programs for the public.

The Malaysian government is making strides to reduce its fiscal deficit and maintain a debt-to-GDP ratio below 60%, as laid out in the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023 (Act 850). For Budget 2025, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) aims to bring the fiscal deficit down to 3.8% of GDP, following a recent trend of decreasing national debt. Key points include: Reduced New Debt : New debt fell from RM100 billion in 2022 to RM92.6 billion in 2023, with further reductions projected at RM84.7 billion for 2024 and RM80 billion by 2025. Debt Composition : Federal loans at the end of September totaled RM166.5 billion, down from RM182.5 billion the previous year, with major components including Malaysian Government Securities (MGS), Malaysian Government Investment Issues (MGII), and Treasury bills. Liabilities : The government’s liabilities reached RM369.3 billion by June, encompassing guarantee commitments of RM231.4 billion and other liabilities totaling RM137.9 billion. Foreign Debt...

The Dewan Rakyat will discuss the proposed MyKad mechanism to verify eligibility for RON95 fuel subsidies and address related concerns, such as issues with defective MyKad chips. Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) will question Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli on this subsidy verification approach during the minister's question time. Other key topics include: East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) Biodiversity Impact: Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) will question Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad about efforts to mitigate the ECRL project’s impact on forest reserves, which has led to wildlife entering nearby villages, affecting residents. Gaza Humanitarian Aid: Mordi Bimol (PH-Mas Gading) will inquire about Malaysia's stance on the Gaza humanitarian crisis and the type and amount of aid allocated by Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan . Halal Certification Issues: Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) will ask Prime Minister...

Malaysia's digital game industry has achieved remarkable growth, generating RM45 million in sales and export revenue from government funding between 2014 and 2024, as revealed by Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has been instrumental in this success, approving 60 projects with a total funding of RM36.7 million for the development of digital games across computer, console, and mobile platforms. Gobind also highlighted that during the same period, MDEC received a digital content fund allocation of RM163 million to bolster the animation industry, digital games, digital comics, and creative technology content. “All these projects have successfully created over 700 job opportunities. This demonstrates the significant potential of the digital game industry in Malaysia, driven by strong government support in areas such as market access, incubators, conferences, workshops, and skill development programs," Gobind noted during a que...