Govt tables RM322.5 billion budget with focus on Covid-19, jump-starting economy

The government has announced a total of RM322.5 billion in the 2021 budget tabled today by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.

The amount is RM10 billion more than the revised budget for 2020, divided into operating expenditure (RM236.5 billion), development (RM69 billion) and RM17 billion for the Covid-19 Money Group, a new category to address the impact of the pandemic.

The budget, themed “Teguh Kita Menang Bersama” (Stand Firm, Together We Win) had attracted unprecedented attention from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the back of concerns that it could be defeated at the voting stage.

The palace issued three reminders to MPs to set aside their political differences and support the budget to ensure that critical financial allocations can be made available in the battle against Covid-19.