Sunday 23 October 2016

Budget Snapshot

BUDGET

- Budget stands at 260.8 billion ringgit ($62.3 billion), a rise of 3.4 pct from 2016

- 2017 revenue collection to expand around 3 pct to 219.7 bln rgt

- Budget deficit expected at 40.3 bln rgt or 3 pct of GDP for 2017

TAXES

- 2017 tax revenue seen up 8.1 pct on corporate tax; oil revenue to remain weak

- Almost 30 bln rgt has been collected through GST as of Oct. 19

- PM Najib: goods and services tax will not be raised

EXPENDITURE

- 214.8 bln ringgit for management, 46 bln rgt for development, 2 bln rgt for savings

SUBSIDIES

- Govt will provide nearly 10 bln rgt for subsidy allocation in 2017

- Govt cash aid programme BR1M to be allocated 6.8 bln rgt in 2017

HOUSING AND HOSPITALS

- Govt to enhance affordability for first-time home buyers by providing more land

- PR1MA to build more than 30,000 houses with selling prices from 150k-RM300k rgt

- Home financing will be made easier and more accessible to buyers

- To upgrade hospital facilities nationwide with an allocation of 536 mln rgt

- 4.5 bln rgt for the operations of clinics in city and rural areas

- 4 bln rgt for supply of drugs, vaccines etc to all govt hospitals and health facilities

MACRO ECONOMY

- 2017 GDP forecast at 4.0-5.0 pct vs 4.0-4.5 pct estimate for 2016

- 2017 inflation forecast at 2.0-3.0 pct vs 2.0-2.5 pct for 2016

- Export growth estimated at 2.7 pct in 2017 vs 1.1 pct gain in 2016

- Expansion expected in services, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and construction

- C/A account surplus to narrow to 14.8 bln rgt in 2017 from 16.4 bln rgt in 2016