The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is touring the country to gather views from industry players, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the public as the government prepares Budget 2027, Bernama reported.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the engagement sessions are aimed at understanding the needs of key sectors in each state and gathering feedback from those directly affected by government policies and allocations.
“We are visiting every state to understand the industries that are important,” he told reporters after visiting Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Mashoor (Girls) in Penang today.
Penang was selected as one of the stops due to its role in the electrical and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor industries, while the medical devices sector will also be among the areas discussed during the tour.
Amir Hamzah said the medical devices industry is a high-value sector with potential to create better-paying jobs and strengthen domestic employment.
“This is one of the high-value economic sectors with the potential to boost domestic employment by creating better jobs here,” he said.
The tour will also cover Sabah and Perak, with discussions expected to include industries such as the blue economy and automotive sector.
Amir Hamzah said feedback gathered through focus group sessions and stakeholder meetings would be reviewed, with some proposals potentially included in Budget 2027.
Other suggestions will be referred to the relevant ministries and agencies for further consideration.
“The focus on specific groups has significantly contributed to enhancing the budget’s quality, given that we have looked beyond ministries and agencies to incorporate proposals from the industry, NGOs, and the public.
“This is to ensure that our budget is comprehensive and inclusive across all sectors,” he said.
