Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli highlighted discrepancies in Malaysia’s development expenditure (DE) for 2025 and concerns over the 2026 allocation in a recent post on X.
He pointed out that for 2025, RM84.7 billion had been approved for development spending, but only about RM80 billion was actually spent, leaving a shortfall of roughly RM6 billion. Looking ahead, DE for 2026 is estimated at RM81 billion, almost the same as the previous year and 6% lower than the original 2025 plan.
Rafizi noted that nearly half of the development budget, or RM17.5 billion, is allocated to the transport sector, including LRT, MRT and road projects. In contrast, agriculture receives only around RM550 million, equivalent to 1–2% of total development expenditure.
He emphasised the implications of these spending patterns, saying, “We often talk about food prices and dependence on imports, but the budget to modernise agriculture remains small. If this pattern continues, we will keep building infrastructure without increasing the real capacity of the economy. Development expenditure is not just a number; it determines the future, job opportunities in rural areas, productivity and food prices.”
Rafizi’s comments raise questions about the balance of budget allocations and the need to prioritise sectors that directly impact economic resilience and self-sufficiency.
