Latest news with #TunkuNashrul
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Reforms not mere rhetoric to unity govt, says PMO
The Prime Minister's Office said the unity government remains open to feedback and sees it as a chance for further improvements. PETALING JAYA : The Prime Minister's Office has dismissed claims that the government's reform agenda has stalled, saying they are actively under way and not just mere rhetoric. Senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah said the government views every criticism as an opportunity for improvement and that its current achievements are a reflection of this approach. 'The government's reform agenda is proceeding consistently – not just in a day, not merely through statements, but through structured action,' he said in a broadcast on Facebook this afternoon. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly defended the pace of reforms under his administration, saying that meaningful change takes time and requires consensus from other coalition partners. Earlier this month, the likes of former minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Subang MP Wong Chen had expressed concern over the lack of reforms. Tunku Nashrul also said recent economic indicators were proof of investors' confidence in the government's reform agenda. 'Malaysia successfully recorded RM89.8 billion in approved investments in the first quarter of 2025 – an increase of 3.7% compared to last year, despite a challenging global landscape. 'These investments are expected to generate 1,600 new projects nationwide and create more than 33,000 jobs.' He also said in the microelectronics and semiconductor sectors, Malaysia secured RM4.6 billion in potential investments and RM507 million in potential exports following its participation in Semicon Southeast Asia 2025. 'All these announcements are proof of investors' confidence in our reform policies,' he said.
The Star
21 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
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Govt reform agenda progressing consistently, not mere rhetoric
KUALA LUMPUR: Claims that the reformasi agenda is not progressing are unfounded, as it is moving forward consistently. Senior press secretary to the Prime Minister, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, said the reformasi agenda is not something to be implemented overnight or merely expressed in statements, but rather is being executed through structured actions. 'Since the start of the Prime Minister's (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) administration, he has emphasised that the MADANI Government will always listen and stay open to constructive criticism. 'This stance is reflected in action. Every criticism is viewed as an opportunity for improvement. Today's successes mirror that approach,' he said. Tunku Nashrul said this during the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) daily briefing, broadcast live on both Anwar Ibrahim's and the PMO Malaysia's Facebook pages today. Tunku Nashrul said that, as outlined by the Prime Minister through the MADANI Economy Framework, the main goal is to elevate the nation's economic potential, enhance its capacity, and ensure the well-being of its citizens. He added that Malaysia's rise of 11 places to the 23rd rank in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, up from 34th place last year, is due to the MADANI Government's sustained commitment and comprehensive implementation via a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. He said this is the country's best performance since 2020, proving that economic and bureaucratic reforms are yielding results and that the MADANI Economy Framework is keeping the country's economy on the right track. 'This achievement also reflects the collective efforts to strengthen fiscal policy, simplify business processes, and accelerate public service delivery reforms, including over 1,000 initiatives under the Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB). 'For example, the national bureaucracy perception index has jumped 22 positions, a clear signal that reforms are delivering real results, not just at the national level but also with international recognition,' he said.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Govt reform agenda progressing consistently, not mere rhetoric, says PMO
KUALA LUMPUR: Claims that the "reformasi" agenda is not progressing are unfounded, as it is moving forward consistently, says Tunku Nashrul Abaidah. The senior press secretary to the Prime Minister said the reformasi agenda is not something to be implemented overnight or merely expressed in statements, but rather is being executed through structured actions. "Since the start of the Prime Minister's (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) administration, he has emphasised that the Madani government will always listen and stay open to constructive criticism. "This stance is reflected in action. Every criticism is viewed as an opportunity for improvement. Today's successes mirror that approach," he said. Tunku Nashrul said this during the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) daily briefing, broadcast live on both Anwar Ibrahim's and the PMO Malaysia's Facebook pages Thursday (June 19). Tunku Nashrul said that, as outlined by the Prime Minister through the Madani Economy Framework, the main goal is to elevate the nation's economic potential, enhance its capacity, and ensure the well-being of its citizens. He added that Malaysia's rise of 11 places to the 23rd rank in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, up from 34th place last year, is due to the Madani government's sustained commitment and comprehensive implementation via a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. He said this is the country's best performance since 2020, proving that economic and bureaucratic reforms are yielding results and that the Madani Economy Framework is keeping the country's economy on the right track. "This achievement also reflects the collective efforts to strengthen fiscal policy, simplify business processes, and accelerate public service delivery reforms, including over 1,000 initiatives under the Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB). "For example, the national bureaucracy perception index has jumped 22 positions, a clear signal that reforms are delivering real results, not just at the national level but also with international recognition," he said. - Bernama
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Reform agenda on track, investor confidence growing
KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister's Office rejected claims that reforms are not taking place, calling them unfounded. The prime minister's senior press secretary, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, said the reform agenda is advancing steadily through structured action under the Madani Economy framework. "As presented by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) through the Madani Economy framework, the core objective is to raise the ceiling by strengthening the nation's economic resilience and ensuring the continued well-being of the people," he said during the Prime Minister's Office daily briefing today. Tunku Nashrul said Malaysia recorded RM89.8 billion in approved investments for the first quarter of this year, marking a 3.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, despite global economic challenges. "These investments are expected to generate 1,600 new projects and over 33,000 job opportunities across the country." In the microelectronics and semiconductor sectors, he said Malaysia secured RM4.6 billion in potential investments and RM507 million in potential exports from its participation in Semicon Southeast Asia 2025. "These announcements are clear evidence of investor confidence in the country's reform policies." Tunku Nashrul added that Malaysia's latest achievement in the IMD World Competitiveness Index 2025, where the country rose to 23rd position, up 11 places from 34th last year, the best performance since 2020, was not a coincidence. "The improvement is a result of continued commitment and comprehensive implementation by the Madani government through a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. "The progress also demonstrates how economic and bureaucratic reforms are bearing fruit and that the Madani Economic framework continues to place the national economy on the right track." He said the success also reflects collective efforts to strengthen fiscal policies, simplify business processes and accelerate public service delivery reforms, including more than 1,000 initiatives under the Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform. "For example, the national bureaucratic perception index has jumped 22 places, an indication that reforms are producing tangible results, not only at the national level but also with international recognition." Tunku Nashrul said that the Madani government has consistently welcomed constructive criticism since taking office. "This stance is translated into action. Every piece of feedback is seen as an opportunity for improvement and today's achievements reflect that very approach," he said.
