PM: Budget will push us to top

Plan is based on reality and will benefit all strata of society, says Najib

ALOR SETAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Budget 2018 formed the basis of the plan to drive Malaysia to further develop and become one of the top 20 countries in the world.

He said great care was taken to draw up Budget 2018 so that it will be inclusive and fair to all strata of society, and to also spur the country to achieve the vision set out in the 2050 national transformation programme (TN50).

“We were engaged in meetings for hours to prepare the budget. When we planned the budget, we based it on reality.

“This is not a drama, this is not a Budget of the Opposition party.

“This is the budget of the Barisan Nasional Government which has been in power for so long,” he said at a gathering with Kedah civil servants here yesterday.

Najib, who was on a oneday visit to Kedah, the first state he visited after tabling Budget 2018, said it was important to feel the pulse of the people in whatever major policy implemented by the Government.

“I want the leaders to go on the ground, meet the people, listen to what they are saying because I will use their input in drawing up government policies,” the Prime Minister said.

He criticised the Opposition’s budget, which he described as un realistic, such as their pledge to abolish toll collection.

“To abolish the PLUS (NorthSouth Expressway) toll alone (will involve) an expenditure of almost RM40bil ... where to get (the money). We cannot administer the country with things that are illogical,” he said.

Similarly, the proposal by the Opposition to abolish the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) would also involve another RM40bil, he added.

Najib said the Government didn’t make unrealistic promises in the budget.

He also said that all aspirations and policies drawn up and tabled by the Government would not be achieved without the support of civil servants as the implementing group.

“If the civil servants implement their tasks wholeheartedly, we will be able to achieve all our aspirations,” he said.

Najib also received a courtesy call from Saudi Arabian Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Khalid Abdulaziz AlFalih here.

However, no details were immediately available on the matters discussed.

An aide to the Prime Minister said any important outcome from the meeting would be announced later by Najib. — Bernama