Latest news with #MADANI
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Foreign Ministry finalises repatriation, Malaysians to leave Iran on Friday
KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry is finalising its efforts to repatriate Malaysian citizens and their family members from Iran amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The ministry, in a Facebook post, said those who have agreed to join the repatriation process are expected to leave Tehran on Friday. The ministry is also working in close coordination with relevant missions to ensure a quick, smooth and safe journey for all involved. On Wednesday, Communications Minister and MADANI government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Malaysia would evacuate its citizens from Iran on Friday in light of the heightened security risks following an escalation of conflict between Israel and Iran.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia to repatriate citizens from Iran amid conflict
KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry is finalising its efforts to repatriate Malaysian citizens and their family members from Iran amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The ministry, in a Facebook post, said those who have agreed to join the repatriation process are expected to leave Tehran on Friday. The ministry is also working in close coordination with relevant missions to ensure a quick, smooth and safe journey for all involved. On Wednesday, Communications Minister and MADANI government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Malaysia would evacuate its citizens from Iran on Friday in light of the heightened security risks following an escalation of conflict between Israel and Iran.
Barnama
5 hours ago
- Business
- Barnama
MADANI Economic Reform Agenda Yielding Results
BUSINESS PUTRAJAYA, June 20 (Bernama) – The MADANI economic reform agenda has yielded results, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Despite global geopolitical and economic uncertainties, Malaysia has shown encouraging achievements in investment, economic performance, and fiscal stability, said Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister. Citing the World Competitiveness Ranking 2025 by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) recently, Anwar said Malaysia ranks 23rd in the global ranking, up 11 places from 34th in 2024. "This is the best achievement since 2020. We are the only country to record an improvement of more than 10 places," he said at the Finance Ministry's monthly assembly today. Anwar said the overall ranking was driven by improvements in three key areas — economic performance, which rose four spots to 4th in 2025, up from 8th in 2024; government efficiency, which jumped eight steps to 25th in 2025 from 33rd last year; and business efficiency, which rose eight rankings to 32nd in 2025 from 40th in 2024. "This achievement is not only the result of prudent fiscal and financial policies but also due to the competence and capability of our civil servants. "It shows that introducing the Public Service Remuneration System was not in vain – it's an encouragement to consider bonus-related matters next,' he added. Anwar also said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had noted the reform efforts. "Through the 2025 Article IV mission, the IMF praised Malaysia's commitment to fiscal reforms.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
MADANI economic reform agenda yielding results
PUTRAJAYA: The MADANI economic reform agenda has yielded results, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Despite global geopolitical and economic uncertainties, Malaysia has shown encouraging achievements in investment, economic performance, and fiscal stability, said Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister. Citing the World Competitiveness Ranking 2025 by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) recently, Anwar said Malaysia ranks 23rd in the global ranking, up 11 places from 34th in 2024. 'This is the best achievement since 2020. We are the only country to record an improvement of more than 10 places,' he said at the Finance Ministry's monthly assembly today. Anwar said the overall ranking was driven by improvements in three key areas — economic performance, which rose four spots to 4th in 2025, up from 8th in 2024; government efficiency, which jumped eight steps to 25th in 2025 from 33rd last year; and business efficiency, which rose eight rankings to 32nd in 2025 from 40th in 2024. 'This achievement is not only the result of prudent fiscal and financial policies but also due to the competence and capability of our civil servants. 'It shows that introducing the Public Service Remuneration System was not in vain – it's an encouragement to consider bonus-related matters next,' he added. Anwar also said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had noted the reform efforts. 'Through the 2025 Article IV mission, the IMF praised Malaysia's commitment to fiscal reforms. They described the implementation of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2023 as a key pillar of the country's fiscal reform,' he said. Anwar reiterated that targeted subsidies and taxation measures are intended to protect the majority of the population. He explained that each fiscal reform initiative does not neglect the welfare of the people. Instead, the government is broadening the tax base and targeting subsidies to improve aid and public services. He noted that in 2023, the government adjusted electricity subsidies in a way that did not burden 85 per cent of the population. 'As a result, we saved RM4 billion – for what? For schools and hospitals,' he said. Anwar added that the targeted diesel subsidy implemented last year also did not burden the public. 'Smuggling to Thailand and Indonesia had gone on for decades and (cost us) tens of billions of ringgit. The government cannot allow that. That is why we enforced controls,' he said. He said the inflation rate was kept under control at 1.8 per cent in 2024 versus 2.5 per cent in 2023 due to targeted subsidy measures.
The Star
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
PMO: Tax expansion vital to ensure fiscal sustainability
KUALA LUMPUR: The country's revenue generation remains limited, and tax expansion is necessary to ensure fiscal sustainability, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Senior press secretary to the prime minister, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, said that Malaysia is among the countries with the lowest tax-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio in the world, at about 12 per cent. Tunku Nashrul emphasised that the government's core principle is clear: the burden will not fall on the majority of the people. Instead, tax revenue will be reinvested into programmes that benefit the people. Among these are the RM13 billion allocated for the Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), benefiting nine million recipients. He also said that RM400 million has been allocated to refurbish dilapidated clinics, and over RM600 million to repair more than 8,000 school toilets, benefitting over five million students. "This is the true foundation of every MADANI government policy, to improve the people's quality of life through responsible and comprehensive measures,' he said during the PMO briefing, which was streamed live on Anwar Ibrahim's Facebook page and the PMO Malaysia Facebook page today. On June 9, the government announced a targeted review of the sales tax rate and an expansion of the service tax scope, both of which will take effect from July 1. The sales tax rate remains unchanged for esential goods, while a five or 10 per cent rate will be imposed on selected items. Meanwhile, the scope of the service tax will be expanded to include six new services: leasing or rental, construction, finance, private healthcare, education, and beauty services. Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican reportedly said that revenue from the Sales and Service Tax (SST) collection is expected to increase by RM5 billion in 2025 and by RM10 billion in 2026, following the implementation of the SST revised and expanded scope starting next month. - Bernama
