Malaysia's government debt exceeds 240 billion USD
The Malaysian government’s direct debt stands at 1.07 trillion RM (242.7 billion USD) and the country is unlikely to ever record a surplus fiscal budget in the future, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said when addressing the upper house on December 21.
Malaysian Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan. (Photo: thevibes.com)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The Malaysiangovernment’s direct debt stands at 1.07 trillion RM (242.7 billion USD) and thecountry is unlikely to ever record a surplus fiscal budget in the future, DeputyFinance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said when addressing the upper house onDecember 21.
He explained that the high federal debt is due to,among other things, the recent COVID-19 pandemic which forced the governmentto increase its expenditure.
Besides, people’s financial burdens due to theensuing lockdowns also meant that the government was not able to introduce newtaxes to cushion the impact of its high spending.
This was why the Parliament decided to increase thestatutory debt limit to 65% of the gross domestic product recently, heexplained.
Ahmad also pointed out that the majority of thegovernment’s loans are from local financial institutions, with only about 3% ofthe overall debt involving foreign funds.
Malaysia has continued to spend more than itsrevenue since 1997, forcing its debt to be increased year after year due toexpenditure on emoluments and development./.
Malaysia’s trade rose by 15.6% year-on-year in November to 238.17 billion RMB (about 53.6 billion USD), marking the 22nd straight month of double-digit growth, according to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).
Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is likely to exceed the earlier projection of between 6.5 % - 7% in 2022, according to Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Malaysian Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan. (Photo: thevibes.com) 
