ALL eyes will be on Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim when he delivers his Budget 2023 speech in the Dewan Rakyat today. 

Anwar last presented the national spending plan in 1997, when he announced a RM64 billion budget for 1998. 

Anwar, who is also prime minister, will table a revised Budget 2023 following the formation of the unity government.

On October 7 last year, then finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz tabled a RM372.3 billion budget for 2023, the largest-ever spending plan in Malaysian history. 

Three days later, on October 10, parliament was dissolved to make way for a general election on November 19. 

Following Anwar’s appointment as finance minister, the Dewan Rakyat unanimously approved the Mini Budget 2023 and Consolidated Fund (Accountable Expenditure) Bill 2022 on December 20.

In the full budget, Anwar said the government will ensure direct cash aid for target groups to mitigate the rising cost of living.

He said the government is concerned about the welfare of every stratum of society, especially the B40 group.

The Tambun MP said for the year 2022, the government spent RM8 billion on direct cash assistance for 8.7 million recipients to ease their post-pandemic financial burdens.

The Malaysian Insight presents flashpoints of Budget 2023.

7.10pm The Government will introduce a Madani Medicine Scheme for the poor to get health treatment. RM120 million will be allocated for this scheme.

7.06pm RM50 million to replace obsolete elevators at low cost flats. RM367 million to build new homes for 12,400 potential new homeowners. Rumah Mesra Rakyat program to build 4,250 housing units with an allocation of 358 million ringgit.

6.59pm Ministry of Higher Education to get RM15.3 billion.

6.57pm Health Ministry receives second largest allocation of RM36.3 billion. The main component of this allocation involves the procurement of medicines, reagents, vaccines and consumables. An allocation of RM3 billion will go out to permanent and contract appointments of more than 1,500 medical officers.

6.56pm Education Ministry to receive RM55.2 billion.

6.52pm: RM209 million to subsidise air travel to rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak.

6.49pm: RM500 for EPF contributors between the age of 40 and 54, with savings below RM10,000 in Account 1.

6.48pm: RM1 billion to acquire 2,100 units of body cameras for police.

6.42pm: RM18.5 billion for Home Ministry. RM17.7 billion for Defence Ministry.

6.41pm: Sabah to get RM6.5 billion and Sarawak, RM5.6 billion, for development.

6.40pm: RM399 million allocation for Youth and Sports Ministry, the bulk of which will pay for training programmes and sports facilities. RM20 million is set aside for unity programmes.

6.35pm: 20% discount on PTPTN loan repayments starting March 1. Borrowers with monthly income of less than RM1,800 may apply to defer repayment for six months. Application opens on March 1.

6.30pm: RM2.5 billion welfare aid for more than 400,000 recipients.

6.21pm: RM50 million for maintenance and repair of non-Muslim houses of worship.

6.20pm: RM20 million for gotong-royong programmes in schools.

6.18pm: RM700 duit Raya for civil servants in grade 56 and below.

6.16pm: RM1 billion under the Agrofood Financing Scheme to help growers raise production.

6.15pm: RM2.5 billion to improve public facilities in Sabah and Sarawak. RM20 billion to build highways in Pan Borneo Sabah and the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road.

6.13pm: 2% income tax deduction for people earning RM35,000 to RM100,000. Those earning RM100,000 to RM1 million to pay 0.5% and 2% more tax.

6.10pm: E-wallet top-up of to RM200 for two million people aged 18 to 20. The  government RM400 million.

6.08pm: Farmers to get RM1.6 billion in subsidies. 240,000 farmers to get RM200 per month for three months.

5.57pm: RM2,500 Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah for each households with monthly income below RM2,500. Additional aid of RM600 for poorest households registered with e-Kasih. RM8 billion is set aside for 8.7 million recipients.

5.54pm: Rahmah Sale to offer basic goods at 30% cheaper prices in 222 constituencies. Programme will cost RM100 million. RM225 million to expand the 
distribution of basic necessities to 25 new areas.

5.49pm: RM64 billion in subsidies, aid, services and incentives for the people to cope with inflation.

5.48pm: RM750 million for People’s Income Initiative.

5.40pm: RM1 billion to help SMEs automate. Matching grants of up to RM5,000 for SMEs to digitise their business

5.39pm: Civil servants with household income of RM7,000 and less to get nursery fee allowance of RM180 per month. 

5.38pm: RM725 million for digital connectivity in 47 industrial areas and 3,700 schools.

5.33pm: A new road to be built from Habu to Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang at a cost of RM 480 million. A road and a bridge to be built over Sungai Sepang to connect Bukit Pelandok, Port Dickson and Sungai Pelek, Sepang, for RM160 million.

Highway from north Yong Peng to north Senai to be widened from four to six lanes at a cost of RM525 million.

5:31pm: RM4,000 for training fees for gig workers. RM300 allowance per month for three months for active gig workers undergoing training programs. RM40 million allocation to benefit 30,000 gig workers.

5.28pm: Employers to get RM600 per month for three months for each TVET graduate, disabled, ex-convict, homeless and chronically unemployed person they hire.

5.27pm: RM250 million to promote tourism, RM115 million of the sum in the form of grants.

5.23pm: Legal Aid Department to raise legal representation for applicants in all courts to RM50,000 from RM30,000.

5.21pm: Police to set special unit to combat child pornography. Social Support Centres to get RM8 million for early intervention in mental health and domestic violence cases.

5.19pm: Insolvency Act 1967 to be amended. Pending amendment, cases of debt of less than RM50,000 that meet certain conditions will be dismissed from March 1. About 130,000 people will no longer be listed as bankrupt.

5.17pm: RM10 million for the National Scam Response Centre as online fraud rises. 2022 saw more than 25,000 online scams causing RM850 million in losses.

5.13pm:  RM100,000 for each district to mend potholes. RM50 million for immediate installation of street lights.

5.11pm: RM2.7 billion to maintain and upgrade federal roads and RM1.5 billion to upgrade and build new roads in rural areas.

5.08pm: RM1.2 billion to repair 400 clinics and 380 schools. Quotation limit for procurement of repair work to be raised to RM1 million from RM500,000.

5.06pm: RM15 billion flood mitigation and RM7 billion Jana Wibawa projects are cancelled pending a new, transparent tender process. This is expected to save the government RM3 billion.

5.01pm: Shariah EPF accounts to be managed separately from conventional ones for more competitive returns starting 2024. 

5pm: Penang and Subang airports’ capacities are to be increased under supervision of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd. This will cost less than building a new airport in Kulim, which is estimated to cost RM7 billion.

4.58pm: Tekun Nasional to provide RM330 million help youth from poor families earn income through business.

4.55pm: Government to pay for the cost of obtaining B2 motorcycle, taxi, bus, and e-hailing licences.

4.53pm: Tun Razak Exchange to become an international financial hub.

4.52pm: Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd to provide up to RM6 billion in strategic financing, specifically to further the sustainability and automation agendas, and to provide equity and revolving working capital for companies affected by Covid-19.

4.51pm: Khazanah Nasional Bhd allocates RM150 million to boost the development of environmentally friendly projects, including to support the carbon market and reforestation.

4.50pm: BNM to provide loans of up to RM2 billion to support start-ups centred on sustainable technology and help SMEs implement low-carbon practices.

4.43pm: RM1.7 billion loan facility by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Bank Simpanan Nasional and Tekun Nasional, especially for micro-entrepreneurs, women, youth, and small traders.

4.41pm: SME loan facilities and financial guarantees of up to RM40 billion from government agencies.

4.40pm: RM176 million to upgrade business premises and facilities under MARA, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd, Perbadanan Perbangunan Bandar, and more.

4.39pm: RM50 million to build and upgrade 3,000 stalls and kiosks nationwide for small traders to do business.

4.36pm: Excise duty to be imposed on liquid nicotine products used for e-cigarettes and vapes. Half of excise duty revenue to be reallocated to the Health Ministry to improve quality of healthcare services, as government’s show of support for the generational smoking end-game effort.

4.35pm: Tax to be reduced from 17% to 15%for SMEs making more than RM150,000. This is expected to help SMEs save up to RM3,000 in taxes.

4.32pm: Luxury goods tax to be introduced for high-priced watches and apparel.

4.30pm: Dividend of 5.1% for 87% of Amanah Saham Bumiputera members with savings less than RM30,000. Dividend of 4.6% for those with savings exceeding RM30,000. 

4.27pm: T20 group’s deposits make up 80% of Employees’ Provident Fund contributions.

4.23pm: The government aims to collect RM291.5 billion in revenue, a decrease from RM294.4 billion in 2022.

4.22pm: RM289.1 billion for operating expenses, RM99 billion allocated for development expenses.

4.19pm: National debt stands at RM1.2 trillion, more than 60% of the 2023 gross domestic product.

4.15pm: Budget 2023 allocation revised to RM388.1 billion from the RM372.3 billion tabled by the Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration in October 2022. Budget 2022 was RM332.1 billion.