NAJIB: M`SIA HAS CAPACITY TO INTRODUCE MORE STIMULUS PACKAGES

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government has the capacity
to introduce more stimulus packages but it cannot allow the budget deficit to
grow, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The government had earlier estimated the budget deficit for 2009 at
3.6
percent but now it would be higher at 4.8 percent.

"If the situation warrants it we will introduce more packages. However, the
move must not result in higher budget deficit," he said after the third Economic
Council Meeting here Monday.

The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi.

Najib said the focus now was to make sure that measures and announcements
made during the 2009 Budget and in the stimulus package announced last week to
take off.

On Nov 4, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, announced a RM7 billion
(US$1=RM3.53) stimulus package to reinforce the economy, strengthen national
resilience and cushion domestic economy against the impact of the global
economic turmoil.

"I am hoping that by the first quarter of next year things will start to
move on the ground," he said.

-- BERNAMA