Malaysia’s public debt within limit: Finance Minister
Malaysian Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said on July 29 the country’s debt level was already at 56.8 percent of GDP at the end of June.
Malaysian Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz (Phôt: Bernama)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysian FinanceMinister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said on July 29 the country’s debtlevel was already at 56.8 percent of GDP at the end of June.
However, it is still below the statutory debt limit of60 percent of the GDP, according to the minister.
The government plans to table a motion to lift the statutorydebt ceiling in the next parliamentary sitting, slated for September,he said.
With limited fiscal space, the government has nochoice but to optimise existing financial resources through rationalisation ofspending, sourcing additional revenue from the government’s ecosystem includingthe utilisation of National Trust Fund (KWAN) as well as the readiness toincrease the ceiling for the Covid-19 Fund (KWC-19), he said.
The government has launched a total of eight stimuluspackages since the pandemic broke out, with an accumulative value of 550billion RM (175 billion USD).
Looking forward, the steps to strengthen thegovernment financial position, especially steps involving revenue, are verycrucial to ensure the government financial position remains strong andresilient in the medium and long term, he said./.
Malaysia's daily COVID-19 cases rose to 16,117 on July 27, the second highest daily figure, but the pandemic in the country will yet to peak until mid-September, an official said.
Malaysia’s exports in June rose 29.3 percent year-on-year to 188.7 billion RM (about 44.55 billion USD), according to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs)’s growth contracted by 7.3 percent in 2020 for the first time in the past 17 years, reported the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
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In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
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The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
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Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The new halal cooperation arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market.
Malaysian Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz (Phôt: Bernama) 
