M`SIA IS OPEN TO ADDITIONAL MEASURES IN STIMULATING ECONOMIC GROWTH

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is very open to additional
measures to stimulate the country's economy, says Deputy Prime Minister Najib
Razak.

"As you know we are open to additional measures from time to time
obviously
we are watching and monitoring the situation very carefully and closely,"
he said when asked if Malaysia will introduce new measures as the global
financial crisis seems worse than expected.

Najib, who is the Minister of Finance said this at a press conference after
opening of the 5th Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum (KLIFF 2008) here Tuesday.

The government, he said was confident in achieving the targets of growth
figures for 2008 and 2009.

"We will make sure that the key factor to achieve those targets is to
ensure
strong domestic demand."

Hence the RM7 billion (US$1=RM3.59) stimulus package announced must be on
the ground by the first quarter next year.

Among other things, he said credit lines by the banks to Malaysia companies
including small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) continue to be relatively
strong.

"We must look into some our domestic regulatory requirements that can be
liberalised and streamline so that we can facilitate the ease and the cost of
doing in Malaysia for domestic and foreign investors," he added.

-- BERNAMA