Kuala lumpur: A total of 145 companies limited by shares (CLBS) disbursed dividends amounting to RM77.735 billion to their shareholders in 2023. These shareholders include the federal government, represented through the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MKD), federal statutory bodies, or parent companies possessing a controlling interest in their subsidiary firms.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Auditor General's Report (LKAN) 1/2026, which was presented in parliament today, highlighted an increase in figures from the previous year, where 134 federal government companies (23.3 percent) distributed dividends totaling RM82.221 billion in 2022.

The report states that 15 companies, accounting for 11.2 percent, and 16 companies, making up 11 percent, directly paid dividends to the federal government, amounting to RM50.777 billion in 2022 and RM43.279 billion in 2023, respectively.

The majority of these dividends to the federal government were significantly contributed by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), which provided RM40 billion (92.4 percent) in 2023, compared to RM50 billion (98.5 percent) in 2022.

In addition to cash dividends, PLUS Malaysia Bhd and UEM Group Bhd issued payments via sukuk, valued at RM2.045 billion in 2022 and RM1.771 billion in 2023.

The report also noted that 13 MKD companies, including subsidiaries, refrained from paying dividends despite posting profits in 2022 and 2023, holding accumulated profits in 2023, and maintaining current solvency ratios at or above one for that year.

Furthermore, 17 non-MKD companies also did not distribute dividends despite recording profits in 2022 and 2023 and maintaining solvency ratios at or above one in 2023. For these 17 companies, dividend payment decisions are determined solely at the director level under Act 777, as there is no resolution, instruction, or dividend payment policy set by the regulating ministry.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency