ID :
17495
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 11:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/17495
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PEOPLE-CENTRIC BUDGET, SAYS M'SIAN DPM
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has described Malaysia's 2009 Budget as a people-centric budget which contains a host of measures aimed at safeguarding the people's interest and well-being.
He said the 2009 Budget was unique because all groups, from taxpayers to
disabled persons, would benefit from the steps taken by the government.
"The 2009 Budget is an undertaking to safeguard the people's interest; it's
a people-centric budget that gives priority to their well-being. Everyone will
benefit from the budget," he said.
Najib was speaking to reporters after the tabling of the 2009 Budget in the
Dewan Rakyat Friday by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Najib said the budget also contained steps to avoid sluggishness in the
economy in view of possible recession.
"We are confident that through the various approaches taken in the budget,
the government will be able to eradicate hardcore poverty by 2010," he said.
Najib also denied claims that the huge allocation given to the East
Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak was to buy the support of members of
parliament from the two states.
He added that the allocation was to fulfil the promises made to the two
states.
"This is to be expected. We have taken into account the views of Sabah and
Sarawak MPs who have been urging the government to look into the uniqueness of
the two states, particularly their sizes, the lack of development and higher
poverty rates.
"It has been the government's wishes to narrow the development gap between
Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak and it is only proper that the budget
reflects what we have been trying to achieve all the while," he said.
In the budget, the government allocated nearly RM3 billion (US$1 = RM3.39)
to Sabah to implement infrastructure projects, including 266km of federal and
rural roads that would benefit about 550,000 people.
Sarawak was allocated with RM3.3 billion to implement various projects
including the construction of 230km of federal and rural roads that would
benefit over 350,000 local population.
Najib also denied that the budget was to regain the voters' support in the
wake of Barisan Nasional's defeat in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary
by-election on Tuesday, a constituency in the northern state of Penang.
"It's not true; we are responsive to the need of the people. We have
discovered that the people are very concerned about the rising cost of living.
"It's not right to label us as a populist government. We are a government
that is sensitive to the need of the people and that is why we embark on the
people-centric measures and programmes," he said
-- BERNAMA
He said the 2009 Budget was unique because all groups, from taxpayers to
disabled persons, would benefit from the steps taken by the government.
"The 2009 Budget is an undertaking to safeguard the people's interest; it's
a people-centric budget that gives priority to their well-being. Everyone will
benefit from the budget," he said.
Najib was speaking to reporters after the tabling of the 2009 Budget in the
Dewan Rakyat Friday by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Najib said the budget also contained steps to avoid sluggishness in the
economy in view of possible recession.
"We are confident that through the various approaches taken in the budget,
the government will be able to eradicate hardcore poverty by 2010," he said.
Najib also denied claims that the huge allocation given to the East
Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak was to buy the support of members of
parliament from the two states.
He added that the allocation was to fulfil the promises made to the two
states.
"This is to be expected. We have taken into account the views of Sabah and
Sarawak MPs who have been urging the government to look into the uniqueness of
the two states, particularly their sizes, the lack of development and higher
poverty rates.
"It has been the government's wishes to narrow the development gap between
Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak and it is only proper that the budget
reflects what we have been trying to achieve all the while," he said.
In the budget, the government allocated nearly RM3 billion (US$1 = RM3.39)
to Sabah to implement infrastructure projects, including 266km of federal and
rural roads that would benefit about 550,000 people.
Sarawak was allocated with RM3.3 billion to implement various projects
including the construction of 230km of federal and rural roads that would
benefit over 350,000 local population.
Najib also denied that the budget was to regain the voters' support in the
wake of Barisan Nasional's defeat in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary
by-election on Tuesday, a constituency in the northern state of Penang.
"It's not true; we are responsive to the need of the people. We have
discovered that the people are very concerned about the rising cost of living.
"It's not right to label us as a populist government. We are a government
that is sensitive to the need of the people and that is why we embark on the
people-centric measures and programmes," he said
-- BERNAMA
