COMMENT | Budget reforms welcomed but procurement remains a concern

COMMENT | On Oct 18, the Supply (Budget) Bill 2025 was tabled in Parliament. Notably, it was the largest budget ever tabled in Malaysian history.

Overall, the items in the budget suggest a positive shift by the government in improving accountability in public service delivery, as well as an increased investment into programmes that directly improve the lives of citizens.

However, certain areas of the Budget still reveal weaknesses in the oversight and accountability of government institutions and other government-linked entities. In light of the government committing to more expenditure than ever before, these must be addressed to prevent corruption and abuse of the system.

Hence, The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) draws attention to specific areas of the budget where an application of good governance principles and transparency is especially needed and makes recommendations for improvement.

1. Procurement Act must be passed as soon as possible

The government has pledged billions of ringgit...