SECOND STIMULUS PACKAGE FACTORS IN DEEPENING CRISIS

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak stressed
that the second stimulus package will be worth more and be more comprehensive as
the government has factored in the deepening of the global economic crisis.

"We have factored in the current external environment which is deeper and
more serious than anybody anticipated," he told reporters after reading Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's speech at the official opening of
the D-8 Ministers' Meeting On Food Security here Thursday.

He said the specific figures on the second stimulus package would be
announced during the mini budget.

The first stimulus package unveiled last November was worth RM7 billion
(US$1.9 billion).

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said there was a bit of time for the
government to come out with a second stimulus package to ensure that the package
was targeted and focused on the right sector.

"We have to go through the process. It is not just the timing of the package
but it also to make sure that the package achieves its purpose. I think it is
more important to make sure it is focused and targeted because there are
countries which have announced fiscal stimulus packages but they are not exactly
providing the expected results," he said.

Asked on whether the size of the package was adequate to the gross domestic
product (GDP), Najib said: "We will try to do our best, bearing in mind there
are other constraints as well."

-- BERNAMA