GEORGE TOWN, Sept 14 — The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is conducting a budget tour to gather views and suggestions from industry players, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and members of the public nationwide as it prepares for Budget 2027.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the tour aims to gain insight into the needs of key sectors in each state and obtain input from parties directly affected by government policies and allocations.

“We are visiting every state to understand the industries that are important,” he told reporters after visiting Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Mashoor (Girls) here today.

Amir Hamzah said Penang is among the locations due to its important role in the electrical and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor sectors.

The medical devices sector is also a focus of the Penang tour, given that Malaysia exports a wide range of medical equipment and is advanced in this industry, he said.

“This is one of the high-value economic sectors with the potential to boost domestic employment by creating better jobs here,” he said.

There will be a tour of Sabah and Perak before Penang to gather views from industry players, including those in the blue (maritime-based) economy and automotive sectors.

The government will study all views received through focus group sessions and meetings with stakeholders, he said, adding that some will be considered for inclusion in the budget.

The other proposals will be examined and discussed with the relevant ministries and agencies.

“The focus on specific groups has significantly contributed to enhancing the budget’s quality, given that we have looked beyond ministries and agencies to incorporate proposals from the industry, NGOs, and the public.

“This is to ensure that our budget is comprehensive and inclusive across all sectors,” he said. — Bernama