‘Income first’: Economy Minister Akmal says Budget 2027 must deliver better wages for Malaysians

In planning Budget 2027, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir emphasized prioritizing income and wages alongside enhancing local companies' capabilities in high-growth, high-value industries.

This strategy aims to translate productivity gains into better job opportunities and meaningful wages.

The federal government has allocated RM25 million for developing the National Automation, Testing, and Equipment (ATE) Campus in Batu Kawan to boost the semiconductor ecosystem, reflecting efforts to support economic well-being despite fluctuating oil prices.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow highlighted state initiatives such as providing land for the ATE campus and a RM50 million technology fund to support start-ups and scale-ups.

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 24 — Income and wages must remain a priority in the planning of Budget 2027, alongside efforts to strengthen the capabilities of local companies in high-growth, high-value (HGHV) industries.

Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said this was necessary to ensure that gains in productivity and Malaysia’s position in the supply chain translate into better job opportunities and more meaningful wages.

“That is why we believe the time has come for discussions on income and wages to remain a priority.

“As we plan Budget 2027, the issue of income must also go hand in hand with the capabilities of companies,” he told reporters after the ‘KL20@Penang 2026: Silicon Surge’ programme at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC).

Akmal said the allocation to Penang for the development of the National Automation, Testing and Equipment (ATE) Campus in Batu Kawan was also part of the government’s efforts to strengthen local companies’ capabilities, thereby creating better job opportunities and more meaningful wages for Malaysians.

He said the federal government had allocated RM25 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) for the construction of the campus, aimed at strengthening the state’s semiconductor ecosystem.

Meanwhile, he said persistently high oil prices and an uncertain outlook should also be taken into account in Budget 2027 to ensure the country’s development and the people’s economic well-being remain protected.

“In terms of the announcements or the Budget to be tabled soon, I expect these to be among the issues that the Finance Minister will focus on, so that despite oil prices remaining high and the outlook being uncertain, the country can continue planning for development and the people’s well-being,” he said.

Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government would provide land in Batu Kawan for the development of the ATE campus.

He said the initiative followed the state’s efforts to strengthen the chip design sector through Penang Silicon Design @ 5KM+, which was launched two years ago.

He said that, in addition to the ATE Campus, Penang had established a RM50 million technology fund as an initial measure to help start-ups and companies seeking to scale up gain access to capital.

“We hope this fund will grow with the participation of parties beyond Penang, creating a fund that start-ups and companies in Penang and across Malaysia can access for the capital they need to move to the next stage,” he said.

Chow said the ATE campus would serve as a platform for talent development, technology qualification and joint development, testing and deployment of Malaysian-made ATE solutions. — Bernama

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在制定 2027 年财政预算时，经济部长阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉·莫哈末·纳西尔强调，应优先考虑收入和工资，同时增强本地企业在高增长、高价值行业的能力。

该战略旨在将生产力提高转化为更好的就业机会和更可观的工资。

联邦政府已拨款 2500 万令吉用于在峇都加湾开发国家自动化、测试和设备 (ATE) 园区，以促进半导体生态系统的发展，这体现了尽管油价波动，政府仍努力支持经济福祉。

槟城首席部长曹观友重点介绍了州政府的各项举措，例如为ATE校园提供土地，以及设立5000万令吉的技术基金来支持初创企业和成长型企业。

乔治市，9月24日讯——在2027年财政预算案的规划中，收入和工资必须继续作为优先事项，同时还要努力加强本地企业在高增长、高价值（HGHV）产业中的能力。

经济部长阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉·莫哈末·纳西尔表示，这是为了确保生产力的提高和马来西亚在供应链中的地位的提升能够转化为更好的就业机会和更有意义的工资。

“正因如此，我们认为现在是时候将收入和工资问题作为优先事项进行讨论了。”

“在制定 2027 年预算时，收入问题也必须与公司的能力齐头并进，”他在槟城海滨会议中心 (PWCC) 举行的“KL20@Penang 2026：硅谷崛起”活动结束后告诉记者。

阿克马尔表示，政府拨款给槟城用于在峇都加湾发展国家自动化、测试和设备（ATE）园区，也是政府加强本地企业能力、从而为马来西亚人创造更好的就业机会和更有意义的工资的努力的一部分。

他表示，联邦政府已根据第十三个马来西亚计划（13MP）拨款 2500 万令吉用于该园区的建设，旨在加强该州的半导体生态系统。

与此同时，他表示，持续高企的油价和不确定的前景也应纳入2027年预算案的考量范围，以确保国家发展和人民经济福祉得到保障。

他说：“就即将公布的公告或预算而言，我预计这些将是财政部长将重点关注的问题之一，这样，尽管油价居高不下，前景不明朗，国家仍能继续规划发展和人民福祉。”

与此同时，槟城首席部长曹观友表示，州政府将在峇都加湾提供土地，用于ATE校园的开发。

他表示，这项举措是继槟城两年前启动的“槟城硅设计@5KM+”项目，旨在加强芯片设计行业之后推出的又一项举措。

他表示，除了ATE校园外，槟城还设立了5000万令吉的科技基金，作为一项初步措施，以帮助初创企业和寻求扩大规模的公司获得资金。

他说：“我们希望随着槟城以外各方的参与，这个基金能够不断发展壮大，最终成为一个槟城乃至马来西亚各地的初创企业和公司都能获得所需资金，从而迈向下一个发展阶段的基金。”

周先生表示，ATE园区将成为人才培养、技术认证以及马来西亚自主研发、测试和部署ATE解决方案的平台。——马新社

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