Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government will commence the formulation of Budget 2027 next month, with plans to present it in early October. Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, emphasized that the budget would be steered by the principle that economic growth should result in tangible improvements in people's lives, rather than being solely evaluated through enhanced economic indicators.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar articulated that the essence of the economy is not merely to deliver higher figures, increased consumption, or greater accumulation of wealth, but rather to empower individuals to live with dignity, security, purpose, and hope. He highlighted the importance of evaluating every major decision on whether growth expands opportunities or restricts them, strengthens families and communities or leaves them more vulnerable, and treats human beings as partners in development rather than just instruments of production.

In his keynote address at the Humane Economy Global Discourse (HEGD) 2026, the prime minister asserted that Budget 2027, along with growth, economic policies, semiconductor strategy, energy transition, and digital transformation, must not overlook the moral purpose of governance and development. He underscored that prosperity should manifest in better wages, meaningful work, affordable housing, accessible healthcare, quality education, thriving communities, and genuine social mobility.

Anwar further stated that sustainability involves not transferring environmental, financial, and social burdens to future generations, while innovation should aim to expand human capabilities rather than exacerbate exclusion.