Malaysia’s government plans to reduce its budget deficit in 2024 through a combination of spending cuts, new taxes and reduced debt payments, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim steps up efforts to convince investors that he’s serious about fiscal discipline.
(Bloomberg) — Malaysia’s government plans to reduce its budget deficit in 2024 through a combination of spending cuts, new taxes and reduced debt payments, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim steps up efforts to convince investors that he’s serious about fiscal discipline.
The government proposes to lower spending to 393.8 billion ringgit ($83.5 billion) next year from a revised 397.1 billion ringgit in the current year, according to the annual budget presented by Anwar, who doubles as the finance minister. That reduction is thanks to the absence of debt obligations related to state fund 1MDB in 2024, which in turn helps narrow fiscal deficit — the gap between revenue and expenditure — to 4.3% of gross domestic product from a 5% shortfall this year, a Finance Ministry report showed.
The deficit is in line with the median level predicted in a Bloomberg survey of economists.
The government will also trim spending on subsidies and social assistance next year by around 11.5 billion ringgit to a total 52.8 billion ringgit, as it moves toward targeted assistance instead of blanket subsidies. An example of that will be the continuing of electricity rebates for the poor, while phasing out diesel subsidies.
“Economic policy should be directed toward growth and economic equality,” Anwar said as he presented the spending plan for 2024. “However, what happens is a large amount of subsidies is benefiting the rich. It is expected that by improving subsidy leakages, revenue can be distributed to the people including wage increases for workers.”
Restoring fiscal health is key for Malaysia to retain emerging Southeast Asia’s highest credit score, and keep investors’ faith at a time when higher US rates have pushed them to ditch emerging-market assets. Foreign funds remain net sellers of about $682 million of Malaysian stocks this year, while they have withdrawn a net $114.3 million from the nation’s bonds so far this month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Malaysia expects revenue to grow 1.5% next year on better economic prospects coupled with measures to broaden the tax base and improve compliance and transparency. The government plans to impose a previously-announced capital gains tax for the disposal of unlisted shares by companies from March 1, as well as raise the rate on services tax to 8% from the current 6%. It also will formulate a tax on luxury goods at the rate of 5%-10%.
“Budget 2024 cemented PM Anwar’s commitment to credibly strengthening Malaysia’s fiscal position in the medium-term,” said Lavanya Venkateswaran, economist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. The spending plan “walked the talk in terms of establishing the government’s path to better fiscal health,” she added.
Anwar’s government eventually aims to reduce fiscal deficit to 3.5% of GDP in the medium term, which will pave the way for the government to lower the debt to GDP ratio to 60%. Malaysia sees federal government debt at 64% of GDP by end-2024, with borrowings to be funded entirely onshore, according to the report.
Malaysian parliamentarians on Wednesday approved a bill to impose limits to its fiscal gap, debt levels, and government guarantees. Once gazetted, Malaysia will have to reduce its budget gap to 3% of GDP as well as lower its debt levels to 60% of GDP within three to five years. Anwar’s fiscal plans are part of a broader goal to make the Southeast Asian economy attractive to international investors, while trying to turn it into a high-income nation within this decade.
The government sees the economy expanding at a pace of 4%-5% next year, after an expected 4% growth this year. It expects inflation to cool to between 2.1%-3.6% in 2024 from an estimated 2.5%-3% this year.
Expectations of slowing price-growth encouraged Anwar’s administration to stick with a plan to end price controls on eggs and chickens that were introduced at the time of high inflation to buffer citizens from rising costs.
He proposed to set aside about 90 billion ringgit for development spending in 2024, which will include 2,000 new projects such as the construction of additional lanes for the so-called PLUS highway as well as upgrading roads, according to the report. That outlay will be lower than the 97 billion ringgit earmarked for development expenses this year.
On the ringgit, Malaysia said its good economic fundamentals, expectations of the US Federal Reserve reaching the end of its rate hiking cycle and China’s economic recovery may provide support for the local currency. The ringgit has remained near the bottom of Asia’s leaderboard so far this month, and Malaysia said Friday the currency would continue to be market-determined.
Here are some more key announcements in the budget:
- Malaysia to offer special tax incentives for investors in Petronas Pengerang complex
- Plans to woo tourists by easing rules to apply for visas as well as the ‘Malaysia My Second Home’ program
- Malaysia to increase excise duty on tobacco and sugary drinks
- The government will set aside 10 billion ringgit in cash aid for 9 million recipients, up from 8 billion ringgit
–With assistance from Cynthia Li, Cecilia Yap, Liau Y-Sing, Kok Leong Chan, Ram Anand and Joy May Yen Lee.
(Updates with economist’s comments in eighth paragraph and additional measures in bullet points.)
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