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THE nation is doubling down on cultivating national pride through sport, language and creativity under the principle to build— inner strength and national character.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim celebrated recent achievements on the global stage: “This year’s National Day is even more meaningful as pairs Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan made history as the first Malaysian mixed and women’s doubles teams to medal at the Badminton World Championships.”
He also lauded Malaysia’s clean sweep at the 2025 Deaf SEA Games with 25 gold, 16 silver and 11 bronze medals, and the record-breaking long jump performance by Paralympic athlete Datuk Latif Romly at the World Para Athletics Championships.
“Let us give the loudest applause to all the heroes and heroines of our nation who have brought honour to Malaysia and raised the *Jalur Gemilang* on the world stage,” said Anwar.
To sustain this momentum, the government will invest more than RM580 million in sports development. This includes strengthening high-performance programmes such as Road to Gold, preparations for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia, and enhancing facilities for youth, schools and athletes — including para-athletes and those in the deaf sports community.
Organisations approved by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) will also be allowed to reinvest a portion of their income into sports-related activities to further support national sporting ambitions.
Language and cultural identity feature prominently in the Budget’s vision. “Bahasa Melayu is the heartbeat of national identity and the medium of thought that must continue to be nurtured in the hearts of every citizen,” said Anwar. The Ministry of Education will continue prioritising Bahasa Melayu as the language of knowledge across all schools and streams.
Amid concerns over lax enforcement in 249 international schools, the government has called for strict adherence to mandatory Malay language and civics lessons for all Malaysian students.
The revival of the *Hadiah Bahasa* marks the government's resolve to restore the stature of Malay as the symbol of cultural dignity and civilisational excellence. Simultaneously, in recognition of global realities, proficiency in English will be further emphasised from early education.
Malaysia’s creative sector also receives a substantial boost. As part of the orange economy, RM110 million in incentives will go to local and international filmmakers producing high-quality works in Malaysia, including RM10 million reserved for national-themed content.
A further RM10 million is earmarked to attract foreign tourists through concerts by local and international artists as part of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
To support Malaysia’s growing digital creative sector, especially in animation and gaming, RM20 million will be channelled towards the Digital Creative Ecosystem. The government will also ease procurement restrictions for ministries to acquire local merchandise and digital content produced by Malaysian animators and creatives. - October 10, 2025
