MELAKA —  Preparations for Budget 2026 will be aligned with the economic priorities of each state, rather than being determined solely at the ministerial level, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the approach is crucial to ensure steady economic growth while addressing the needs of the people, particularly in coping with the cost of living.

“Each state has its strengths. In Melaka, for example, the focus is on tourism and manufacturing, of which the state has shown encouraging performance,” he said during the Budget 2026 Engagement Session for Tourism and Manufacturing Industry Players with the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in Banda Hilir today.

Also present were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, Tourism, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, and MOF Deputy Secretary-General of Treasury (Policy) Datuk Zamzuri Abdul Aziz.

Anwar said public concerns over the cost of living must be taken into account, noting the gap between the elite and the lower-income groups.

“That is why economic strengthening cannot be defined by traditional economic theory alone, but must be linked to real needs and sound judgment to ensure society develops in a way that is fair, practical, and does not burden the people,” he said.

Approximately 150 representatives from the tourism and manufacturing industries, as well as state and federal government agencies, participated in the engagement session.