Kuala lumpur: The Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara sessions for the First Meeting of 2026 concluded today, focusing on enhancing the country's economic resilience, fiscal management, and assessing the impact of the West Asia conflicts on national and global economies. The sessions for the Dewan Rakyat ran from January 19, 2026, to March 3, 2026, while the Dewan Negara convened from February 19, 2026, until today.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, during the sessions, the Senate approved the Capitation Grant Bill 2026, which revises the annual grant rates for state governments based on population. Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong emphasized that the adjustment is designed to benefit less populous states with limited revenue.
The Senate also passed the Supplementary Supply Bill (2025) 2026, allocating RM8.4 billion for additional operating expenditure in 2025. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan noted that the allocation did not affect the fiscal deficit target, maintained at 3.8 per cent. He highlighted the dual impact of rising global crude oil prices, which increase Petronas' revenue but also elevate fuel subsidy burdens.
Regarding the ringgit's performance, the Ministry of Finance assured that Bank Negara Malaysia is closely monitoring it to ensure orderly currency adjustments. Meanwhile, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad stated that new US tariffs would minimally impact Malaysian palm oil exports, given the US's minor role in this market compared to India, Kenya, and China.
Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin reported that Malaysia's trade performance exceeded RM3 trillion for the first time in 2025, driven by a 'friends-to-everyone' policy. Although trade with Iran remains minimal, at RM2.45 billion, the government is monitoring the West Asia conflict to mitigate supply chain disruptions. Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah mentioned the government's focus on preventing cost-push inflation due to rising global energy costs.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry also revealed initiatives to support local integrated circuit design companies, fostering 'Made by Malaysia' technology. The ministry clarified that technical requirements on Lynas Malaysia and similar companies remain unaffected by the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade's 'licensing certainty' commitment.
To support transportation infrastructure, the government approved a RM135 million soft loan to finalize the East Klang Valley Expressway project, now 90 per cent complete. The upcoming Second Meeting of the Dewan Rakyat is scheduled for June 22, 2026, to July 16, 2026, with the Dewan Negara following from July 20, 2026, to August 4, 2026.