Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said that the country's restructuring efforts are aimed at weathering what is expected to be a challenging economic climate.

"We are now in the midst of restructuring; it is something that needs to be done in order to prepare our capacity to absorb the global shock or any financial turbulence ahead," said Mahathir in his opening address at the 31st International Federation of Technical Analyst Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

"The government, however, remains confident that the new policies will create a stronger base and balance between prudent spending and ensuring the private sector is given a strong boost," he added, alluding to the ongoing trade dispute between China and the US.

Among the participants at the conference included market regulators, hedge fund managers, investment analysts, system developers, private investors and others from Malaysia and abroad.

Ahead of Pakatan Harapan's maiden budget next week, Mahathir also reassured investors that any new policies introduced in Budget 2019 will be business-friendly.

"I would like to assure investors that any change in policies will not be detrimental to their businesses and ventures.

"The upcoming Budget 2019, to be tabled on Nov 2, has been designed to place Malaysia on a stronger footing which will ensure the prosperity of the rakyat and the next generation," he said.

Commenting on the day's conference, Mahathir said he believes that technical analysis is an area which has yet to be fully explored in the country.

More than just a fundamental analysis of economic principles, the prime minister added that a technical analysis of the market could spur investments and boost overall economic growth.

"While long-term investment is critical, short-term trading would spur further participation in the market, thus improving the overall liquidity in stock markets," he said.

Mahathir had previously described Budget 2019 as one of "sacrifice" and announced that Putrajaya is expected to introduce new taxes to boost its revenue.