“Better job prospects on an improving economy will also improve household spending, as well as recovery in tourism-related sectors will contribute to better private consumption next year,” MoF wrote.

The government's Covid-19 stimulus packages are expected to contribute over four percentage points to GDP growth, according to the Economic Report, noting that the government's all four stimulus packages, comprising fiscal and non-fiscal measures, totalled RM305 billion or 21% of the nation's GDP.

The country’s fiscal deficit is anticipated to widen to 6% of GDP due to the implementation of economic stimulus packages and recovery plans, in addition to a lower GDP estimate and global crude oil prices.

“[Malaysia’s] labour market [is] showing signs of recovery,” the MoF said.

The increase was mainly due to a sharp contraction in GDP during the first half of the year, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said in its Economic Outlook 2021 report.

With Budget 2021 set to be even bigger, what can we expect from the mother of all Budgets this year?

Datuk Chang Kim Loong: Members of the public are also forewarned to be careful with any oral promises from any parties to renew lease tenures upon expiry which are not properly documented. The related case study would be the Marble Jade Mansion in Brickfields on issue of “promised” lease extension, but that is another story.

Malaysian Association of Hotels CEO Yap Lip Seng: Hotels are coming up with creative products and services to sustain operations and such work-from-hotel packages are one of those where hotels are making use of their available resources to generate additional revenues.

CGS-CIMB Research analyst Sharizan Rosely said the tenancy drop-out for Robinson’s outlet in The Gardens Mall will negatively impact IGB Real Estate Investment Trust (IGB REIT). However, he believed that the damage is manageable

Just when markets were in a rosy mood, the escalating number of Covid-19 positive cases starting in September put everything on halt again with the implementation of a 14-day conditional movement control order (CMCO) in Klang Valley, which has been extended for another 14-days until Nov 9, 2020.