Budget 2027 should move beyond announcing reforms and prove that policy changes can deliver better wages, stronger job prospects and tangible improvements in living standards, according to Sunway Business School Senior Lecturer Dr Manjeet Kaur Harnek Singh.
Speaking in an exclusive response ahead of the Budget, Manjeet said she is cautiously optimistic that the government will demonstrate its ability to cushion Malaysia from continuing global energy shocks and geopolitical uncertainty while sustaining economic growth.
A key test, she said, will be whether further economic reforms translate into outcomes that households and workers can actually feel.
She expects further refinements to targeted subsidies and social assistance, but said Budget 2027 should also address the link between productivity and wages, while expanding suitable employment opportunities for graduates without undermining Malaysia’s investment competitiveness.
That balance will be increasingly important as policymakers seek to improve household incomes while keeping Malaysia attractive to domestic and foreign investors.
Education Spending Must Build Future Talent
Manjeet also wants Budget 2027 to put greater weight on education and skills development, particularly for lower-income households.
She called for more scholarships for students from low-income families to pursue higher education or technical and vocational education and training (TVET), alongside greater university funding for research, development, commercialisation and innovation.
More opportunities should also be provided for teachers and lecturers to strengthen their teaching and research expertise, she said.
The emphasis points to a broader challenge for Budget 2027: Ensuring public spending not only supports near-term households but also strengthens Malaysia’s longer-term productivity and talent pipeline.
Healthcare Affordability In Focus
Healthcare financing should be another priority as treatment costs continue to rise.
Manjeet said Budget 2027 should build on existing efforts to improve healthcare affordability, with policies taking into account the different abilities of households to pay.
She stressed that treatment costs should not place a disproportionate burden on households with fewer financial resources, adding that stronger healthcare financing must go hand in hand with equitable access to care.
Ultimately, however, Manjeet said the success of Budget 2027 will not be measured by the number of measures announced.
The bigger test will be effective implementation, transparent spending and whether the Budget produces visible improvements in people’s lives.
