Creating fiscal space for constructing Malaysia’s social protection floor

Creating fiscal space to support key social investments, especially in child-sensitive social protection measures, is essential for Malaysia’s sustainable development. Recognising the pivotal role of the national budget in advancing societal objectives, this roundtable aims to comprehensively analyse Malaysia’s fiscal landscape. Emphasising the importance of government allocations towards education, healthcare, and social protection, the discussion will explore strategies to expand fiscal space without compromising long-term fiscal stability. This is particularly urgent given Malaysia’s demographic challenges, including the rising old-age dependency ratio and high rates of child stunting and wasting.

The roundtable will highlight the need for child-sensitive social protection interventions, analyse the fiscal envelope, and draw on global evidence and best practices. It will also identify fiscal strategies to fund a Social Protection Floor (SPF), focusing on improved taxation policies and expenditure reprioritisation. The event aims to foster an inclusive dialogue guiding Malaysia towards an optimal policy mix for enhancing social welfare.