Budget 2025: A Bigger Tourism Budget To Bring More People To Malaysia - Fernandes

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- AirAsia hopes the upcoming Budget 2025 will offer more initiatives to promote and advertise Malaysia.

Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the airline did not expect specific incentives for aviation but would like a bigger budget allocation for the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.

He said tourism was a big economic contributor and could work in sync with airlines to make Malaysia a more attractive destination.

"My big goal is to work closer with Malaysia Airports, which need to be more efficient and cost competitive. We need them to help us with advertising.

"I am not looking for any specific incentives (in Budget 2025), (but) bringing more people to Malaysia and advertising Malaysia well will be great," he told reporters after unveiling the ‘New Dawn’ for Capital A and the future of AirAsia, here today.

Fernandes said the government has many priorities in Budget 2025 and that industry players should move (away) from the incentive and subsidy mentality.

"I would like to see money in the budget driving the economy. How can we make tax go further rather than subsidising fuels and others," he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will table Budget 2025 on Friday.

Themed “MADANI Economy, Prosperous Nation, Well-being of the People”, it is the third budget by the MADANI government under Anwar’s leadership and the last under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) before transitioning to the 13th Malaysia Plan for the next five-year period.

On Malaysia holding the ASEAN chair in 2025, Fernandes is optimistic ASEAN could achieve more following Anwar's regional focus and his ties with all the bloc’s leaders.

He said last year's conference theme was enhancing connectivity and resilience and this had brought about digital and logistics connectivity. This being the case, there should, therefore, be more focus on making it easier to do business in ASEAN, and there should be benefits when ASEAN companies make regional investments.

He also suggested the possibility of companies in ASEAN raising capital not just in one market but across the region.

"It's all about creating an environment of doing business in ASEAN easier. Sitting on the ASEAN-Business Advisory Council’s (ASEAN-BAC) gave me optimism that there is sincerity in trying to create an ASEAN  market," he said.

Malaysia will be chairing ASEAN officially effective Jan 1, 2025 with the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability".

-- BERNAMA