Khazanah Nasional Managing Director, Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, said Budget 2027 comes at a critical time as the country navigates geopolitical uncertainties, supply chain pressures and elevated fuel prices arising from the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
He said the government’s focus on strategic sectors, including semiconductors, infrastructure, energy transition, enterprise development and talent, would help deepen Malaysia’s industrial capabilities and create higher-value opportunities for businesses and workers.
“The Budget places emphasis not only on growth, but on quality growth,” he said.
He added that these priorities were essential to strengthening Malaysia’s economic complexity and positioning the country for sustainable long-term growth.
Amirul Feisal highlighted Khazanah’s collaboration with the Penang and Selangor state governments to establish a RM150 million Strategic Investment Fund aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s semiconductor and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
Under the initiative, Khazanah, Penang and Selangor will each contribute RM50 million to the fund, which will support high-potential Malaysian companies and enhance domestic capabilities in advanced manufacturing.
The initiative is expected to encourage innovation, strengthen local industry participation and enable Malaysian businesses to move into higher-value segments of the semiconductor supply chain.
Khazanah also welcomed the government’s continued emphasis on supporting Bumiputera enterprises through vendor development, innovation and access to new markets.
In line with this, Dana Ciptawan will be expanded to RM250 million in collaboration with the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) to support the growth of Bumiputera and Malaysian mid-tier companies.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to develop more competitive domestic enterprises capable of expanding their operations and participating in regional and international markets.
On sustainability, Khazanah welcomed the government’s commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s energy security and climate resilience through investments in renewable energy and electricity infrastructure.
Amirul Feisal highlighted Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s planned investments in the national electricity grid and UEM Lestra’s RM1 billion renewable energy investment as important initiatives supporting the country’s energy transition.
He said the investments would contribute towards improving energy security, affordability and sustainability while supporting Malaysia’s longer-term economic development.
Khazanah also expressed support for the government’s efforts to improve household incomes and ensure that economic growth benefits a broader segment of society.
Amirul Feisal welcomed the increase in the living wage benchmark for employees of government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and government-linked companies (GLCs) to RM3,400 per month.
He said the measure aligns with the government’s broader objective of increasing labour’s share of gross domestic product (GDP) and improving workers’ living standards.
The budget’s focus on youth, entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and vulnerable communities was also viewed positively, particularly amid rising living costs and climate-related challenges.
Beyond industrial development, Khazanah reaffirmed its commitment to heritage conservation through Dana Warisan under the broader Warisan KL initiative.
The sovereign wealth fund will continue restoration works at the Sultan Abdul Samad Building Complex and Carcosa as part of efforts to preserve Malaysia’s cultural and historical assets.
Amirul Feisal said Khazanah would continue deploying capital through its various investment and development platforms, including Dana Impak, Jelawang Capital, Dana Ciptawan, Dana Warisan, K-Youth, Bakat MADANI and Yayasan Hasanah.
These initiatives will support enterprise development, innovation, talent cultivation and community resilience while advancing Malaysia’s long-term competitiveness.
Khazanah will also continue collaborating with other GLICs under the Ministry of Finance’s GEAR-uP programme to mobilise domestic capital more effectively.
The programme aims to strengthen national development through disciplined investments, strategic partnerships and initiatives that deliver measurable economic and social benefits.
Overall, Amirul Feisal said Khazanah remains committed to supporting Malaysia’s economic transformation by directing investments towards strategic industries, developing local businesses and creating sustainable opportunities for future generations.
