KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) gave positive feedback today on several initiatives announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim under Budget 2025, which was tabled in Parliament on Friday (October 18).
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said these included the proposal to assist traders who use e-Invoicing in their business transactions from July 1, 2025.
The Larut MP said that at present, 90 per cent of businesses involved small and medium enterprises (SME), described as the heartbeat of the country’s economy.
“We welcome the government’s proposal to assist traders who will be using e-Invoicing in business transactions… lots of incentives will be given, good… we support,” he said during the debate session on the Supply Bill 2025 at the policy level in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Towards the implementation of e-Invoicing on July 1, 2025, the government proposes that expenditure on the purchase of information and communications technology equipment, computer software packages and consulting fees be given an accelerated capital allowance and claimed within two years.
In his almost 90-minute debate, Hamzah said that while he agrees with the implementation of the minimum wage of RM1,700 from February 2025, he called on the government to review the enforcement period of its implementation to give the SMEs time to make adjustments and preparations.
“We agree with this minimum wage implementation, but we ask that the enforcement of its implementation be delayed for certain sectors because, if carried out comprehensively, we are concerned that the SMEs may be the most affected group,” he said.
Hamzah suggested that the government could also consider offering wage subsidies to employers in the implementation of the minimum wage, since labour costs contribute quite significantly to the increase in operating costs, in addition to the costs of utilities, raw materials and transportation.
Meanwhile, he also hailed Malaysia’s policy of wanting to be in the top 25 of the Corruption Perceptions Index within 10 years.
This is because that position will influence international trust in the government’s transparency and accountability, and will not only impact the economy but also bring benefits to the country’s social and political well-being.
— Bernama
