KLCI Slips on Light Trading — E-Invoicing Grace Period Extended by One Year, a Big Relief for SMEs

Turning back to Malaysia’s domestic market, today’s trading was noticeably calmer compared with the volatility seen globally. Overall, it was a session of quiet consolidation. Looking at market performance, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI edged lower in line with regional markets, closing at 1,669.57 points, down 7.26 points or 0.43%. Trading activity remained subdued, with blue-chip stocks broadly weaker, reflecting limited investor participation and few near-term catalysts. However, there was important positive news for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The government announced a major adjustment to the e-Invoicing rollout: the fourth phase, originally scheduled to become mandatory on 1 January this year, will now have its grace period extended from six months to a full year. What does this mean in practical terms? Tax-registered businesses with annual revenue of RM5 million will have the entire year to adapt to the e-Invoicing system without facing penalties for non-compliance. This extension provides much-needed breathing room for SMEs and has been widely welcomed as a business-friendly and pragmatic policy move. Finally, a quick heads-up: Malaysia’s unemployment rate for November 2025 is set to be released today at 12:00 pm. Market expectations are for the figure to remain stable at around 3.0%. Investors tracking local labour market trends may want to keep a close watch on this release.