KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Malaysia’s national debt in 2022 climbed to RM1,079.59 billion, a considerable increase of RM99.78 billion or 10.2 per cent from RM979.81 billion in the previous year, the Auditor-General (A-G) said in its report on the Federal Government’s Financial Statement that year.
The report also said that the government’s fiscal deficit stood at RM99.48 billion in 2022, which was a fall in deficit-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio to 5.6 per cent from 6.4 per cent in 2021 despite an increase in value.
“The federal debt consisted of domestic debts amounted to RM1,050.078 billion or 97.3 per cent and external debts amounted to RM29.513 billion or 2.7 per cent.
“Domestic debts increased by RM99.994 billion or 10.5 per cent, whereas external debts decreased by RM0.218 billion or 0.7 per cent,” the report said.
The federal statutory debt consisting of Islamic Treasury Bills, Government Investment Issues and Government Securities were at RM1.03 trillion or 57.6 per cent to GDP — below the debt ceiling which was raised to 65 per cent between November 18, 2021 and December 31, 2022.
Meanwhile, revenue in 2022 increased to RM294.36 billion, a rise of RM60.6 billion or 25.9 per cent compared to 2021.
The bulk of it came from taxes at RM208.77 billion or 70.9 per cent of the total revenue.
