KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — The government’s firm stance against reintroducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), alongside positive progress in reducing the fiscal deficit and new national borrowing, were among the key highlights during the sixth week of the Dewan Rakyat session.

This week’s proceedings also saw the allocations for four more ministries approved at the committee stage, following the conclusion of debates and the winding-up speeches for the Supply (Budget) Bill 2027 and the 2027 Development Expenditure Estimates, which subsequently secured majority support via a voice vote.

The four ministries are the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

During the two-day session held following the Deepavali holiday on Monday and Tuesday Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim appeared during the Ministers’ Question Time on Thursday to address issues concerning the national debt, fiscal management, and trade and investment relations between Malaysia and Taiwan.

Anwar reiterated that the government has no plans to reintroduce the GST, emphasising that this decision is not driven by political considerations, but rather by a desire to avoid imposing an additional burden on the public, particularly those in the low-income group.

Touching on the nation’s fiscal position, Anwar said the fiscal deficit has been successfully reduced from 6.4 per cent in 2021 to 3.7 per cent in 2025, with a projected further decline to 3.3 per cent by 2027, thus enabling a reduction in new government borrowing from RM100 billion in 2021 to RM75.6 billion in 2025.

He noted that new borrowing under the Madani Government is utilised to fund national development, including schools, hospitals, roads, as well as water and electricity supply.

“We are also compelled to meet inherited financial obligations. In 2023 alone, RM13 billion was required to settle 1MDB bonds,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Dewan Rakyat was also briefed on the ‘One China’ policy, the nation’s official stance since 1974, acknowledging that this position may cause some unease among certain quarters in Taiwan.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Malaysia, as an independent and sovereign nation, will not compromise its foreign policy principles for the sake of trade interests, however, it will take appropriate measures to ensure that economic and investment ties with Taiwan remain intact.

Separately, the issue of implementing house arrest for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was also addressed when Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail detailed the various strict conditions and restrictions to be imposed throughout the duration of the house arrest lasting until August 23, 2028 which include prohibitions against leaving the gazetted premises, participating in political activities, or engaging in media coverage.

He said these restrictions encompass four primary conditions set by the Pardons Board on limitations on place of residence and social interactions, controls on movement and visitation, restrictions on the use of telephones and telecommunication devices and a mandatory requirement to participate in rehabilitation and intervention programmes in addition to further supervisory conditions imposed by the Malaysian Prison Department.

Dewan Rakyat was also informed that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is now capable of issuing early flood warnings up to one hour before an event a significant improvement from the previous five-minute lead time following an enhancement in the capabilities of the Kuala Lumpur Control Centre.

Furthermore, as of August 31, 1,322 participants representing 65 per cent of the 2,034 total participants in the People’s Income Initiative-Agro-Entrepreneur (IPR-INTAN) programme have successfully achieved a monthly income of at least RM2,000. This reflects the effectiveness of the government’s initiative in assisting low-income groups to increase their earnings.

According to the Dewan Rakyat calendar, the committee-stage debate on the 2027 Budget is scheduled to continue until November 26, with 16 additional ministries set to conclude their respective winding-up sessions.

The Third Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament is being held over a 37-day period, concluding on December 8. — Bernama