IPOH: The consultation process for Budget 2013 has been completed with all
views by the stakeholders given due consideration, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni
Hanadzlah said.
He said the draft Budget would be discussed by the Cabinet at its meeting on
Wednesday. “We are now entering into the final phases and will make some refinement to
the draft,” he told reporters after a Merdeka celebration in Tanjung Rambutan
yesterday.
The Budget will be unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun
Razak in Parliament on Sept 28. The Treasury had conducted several rounds of discussions with stakeholders on
Budget 2013, which is widely anticipated to be a People's Budget.
Among others, the discussions touched on new initiatives to enhance private
investments and current challenges given the uncertain global economy. Ahmad Husni pledged that the Budget would be a “balanced” one that would have
something for everyone.
“From the business sector's point of view, they want incentives to enhance
competitiveness and reduce the cost of doing business. “There are also calls to improve the quality of the workforce through
training. “NGOs also want some announcement to lower the cost of living,” he added.
On calls for the corporate tax rate to be reduced, Ahmad Husni stressed that
any reduction would depend on the country's financial capabilities.
“We need to have a balance and take into consideration the country's
expenditure and revenue. Lack of planning could affect our country's economic
growth and have other negative effects,” he said.
THE STAR ONLINE
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