As election talks hit fever pitch, Malaysians primed for ‘feel-good’ Budget on Oct 7

MALAYSIA will present its 2023 Budget on Friday (Oct 7), three weeks before its original scheduled date and amid mounting speculation that parliament could even be dissolved before the Budget in preparation for an early general election before the end of the year.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who has said he has “no inspiration yet” on when to send the county to the polls, is due to have his weekly audience with the King on Thursday. There is some talk that he might use this occasion to advise the monarch to dissolve parliament. It is the King, however, who has the final say on whether to make it happen.

With the election very much on the minds of the voters this week, many are expecting the government to dish out some “sweeteners” at the Budget. Here are some pressing questions ahead of Finance Minister Zafrul Abdul Aziz’ speech on Friday: