Penang: The government has announced that it has no current plans to review the existing rounding mechanism to the nearest five cents, a practice that has been in place since 2008. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan stated that the system is operating effectively and does not interfere with business operations in the country.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Finance Minister emphasized that the current mechanism should remain unchanged, as it does not negatively impact existing businesses. He addressed these comments briefly after leading the Penang 2026 Budget Roadshow Programme, responding to media reports suggesting a review of the system. These reports highlighted concerns that the rounding mechanism may disadvantage consumers while favoring merchants, especially in the context of increasing online transactions.

The rounding system was introduced by Bank Negara Malaysia and officially implemented on April 1, 2008, to facilitate cash transactions following the removal of one-sen coins from circulation. The Ministry of Finance is also continuing its efforts to gather input for the Budget 2026 by organizing roadshows. These events aim to collect feedback from industry players and local stakeholders, which will contribute significantly to the budget drafting process.