The much anticipated Budget 2021 was released today, unveiling an expansionary budget to boost recovery prospects. Fiscal deficit is expected to widen to 6.0% in 2020 before narrowing to 5.4% in 2021 as the government continues to embark on further fiscal stimulus efforts. For the coming 2021, the budget will remain expansionary with higher development expenditure worth MYR69bn versus MYR50bn allocated in 2020. Additionally, the government will continue to channel an allocation of MYR17bn worth of funds to the dedicated Covid 19 fund continuing from this year’s allocation of MYR38bn to aid households and affected segments.
Analysts

Chang Wai Ming
Head, Fixed Income Strategy
Group Treasury & Global Markets
+603 92806869
chang.wai.ming@rhbgroup.com

Amanyna Hanany Mohd Adnan
Analyst, Fixed Income Strategy
Group Treasury & Global Markets
+603 92806848
amanyna.hanany.mohd@rhbgroup.com
Figure 1: Malaysia’s fiscal consolidation progress, fiscal deficit expected to improve to 5.4% in 2021
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Figure 2: Federal Government Financial Position
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In the coming 2021, the Federal Government’s revenue is expected to improve to MYR236.9bn (est. improvement of +4.2% versus 2020) Total expenditure will comprise of operating expenditure of MYR236.5bn and development expenditure of MYR69.0bn. We opine Budget 2021 is expansionary in nature with a robust MYR19.0bn allocated to development expenditure to support strategic infrastructure projects with high multiplier effects to boost growth during the current pandemic environment.

According to the MOF Economic Report 2020/2021, the Government will increase development expenditure further by c.MYR19.0bn (compared to 2020) to spur and revitalize public investments via capital formation, as measures to strengthen the long-term potential of the Malaysian economy. Planned development expenditure on impactful public infrastructure projects, primarily for transport and connectivity such as MRT 2, Pan Borneo Highway as well as the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP) projects will help rejuvenate growth prospects and provide further multiplier impacts across economic activities.

Growth and Inflation Outlook

In 2021, MOF’s expects domestic growth to contract by -4.5% before improving towards a projected level of +6.5% - +7.5% in 2021. Fiscal spending and positive spill-over effects from stimulus efforts to provide added catalysts in boosting recovery prospects. Domestic growth is poise to improve in 2021 but the speed of recovery will depend on the successful containment of the pandemic and sustained recovery in terms of external demand. Meanwhile the outlook on inflation is expected to remain subdued and stay in negative territory around -1.0% in 2020 before normalizing back to +2.5% in 2021 according to the MOF Economic Outlook Report.

Supply of MGS/MGII in 2021
Higher gross supply in 2021 amid continued fiscal stimulus efforts

In the coming 2021, we are projecting gross supply of MGS/MGII to range between MYR152bn-MYR154bn on the back of scheduled MGS/MGII maturities worth MYR67.7bn maturing next year. Please refer to Figure 2 for upcoming MGS/MGII maturities in 2021. There will be MYR6bn worth of SPK 10/21 maturing in 2021 which will instead be replaced with LPPSA issuances. Despite the higher gross supply, we opine private placements to be featured again in the upcoming Auction Calendar for 2021 which will remain supportive for MYR bonds.

Figure 3 : Maturing MGS/MGII/SPK in 2021
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Figure 4: Maturity Profile of MGS/MGII/SPK (current outstanding)
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A closer analysis on the maturity profile of outstanding MGS/MGII/SPK issuances suggest that issuance supply for the coming year will likely be skewed towards the longer end.. This is in line with efforts in terms of smoothening out the maturity profiles of existing government bonds whilst locking in on the lower borrowing cost given the low interest environment which augurs well for funding initiatives. In terms of composition of MGS: MGII, we continue to see further convergence towards a more balanced mixed, potentially moving into a balanced 50:50 ratio. Current outstanding MGS is around 54% of total govvies bond outstanding, with the balance of 46% represented by MGII. A balanced mixed will help deepen the MYR sovereign sukuk space given the larger outstanding MGII segment.

We view that the current demand and supply dynamics of the MYR bond market remains healthy as mirrored by sturdy YTD average bid to cover ratio (BTC) at 2.25 times. Renewed foreign inflows on the back of higher real yields from investing in MYR bonds are seen as added plus points. Amid the current ultra-low interest rates environment in advanced economies, investors hunting for real yields will continue to persist in the emerging Asia space. Foreign holdings of MYR government bonds continue to register positive inflows from May to October bringing current cumulative inflows of c. MYR30.0bn.

Key takeaways from Budget 2021 for capital markets –

The following are some of the key takeaways from Budget 2021 which will provide further catalysts for the issuance landscape:

1. Prospects of increase bond issuances in the ESG-themed- SRI Sukuk space

  • Government of Malaysia to issue the first Sovereign Sustainability bond in 2021 to fund green and social projects.
  • Tax exemptions for the current green SRI Sukuk grant scheme is extended to include all bonds and sukuks until 2025 to encourage more issuances of SRI Sukuk.
  • Green Technology Financing Scheme 3.0 (GTFS 3.0) with fund size of MYR2.0bn is extended for 2 more years until 2022 and will be guaranteed by Danajamin to encourage SRI Sukuk Issuances.
  • We expect the above measures to boost the ESG Themed-SRI Sukuk space, increasing the depth for both investments and sukuk issuances for the MYR bond market.

2. Support for corporate financing through Danajamin and Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJJP)

  • Additional MYR3bn Danajamin PRIHATIN Guarantee Scheme (DPGS) offered to high-skilled industry i.e; oil & gas and aerospace for financing facilities.
  • Additional allocation of MYR10bn through Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJJP) for financing facilities, special allocation of MYR2bn for Bumiputera entrepreneurs.


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