Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has rejected assertions that the federal government is excessively dependent on annual dividends from state-owned oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).
In remarks addressing fiscal policy concerns, the Prime Minister stated that Petronas dividends constitute only approximately 6% of the government's total revenue for the 2026 fiscal year.
The clarification aims to dispel narratives suggesting that Malaysia's budgetary stability is unduly tied to the performance of its national energy champion.
By quantifying the dividend contribution at a single-digit percentage, the government underscores the diversification of its revenue streams beyond the energy sector.
This statement comes amid broader scrutiny of sovereign wealth and state-owned enterprise contributions to national budgets across emerging markets.
While Petronas remains a critical pillar of Malaysia's economy and a major source of foreign exchange, the Prime Minister's figures indicate that other tax and non-tax revenues form the bulk of federal income.