GOVT WON`T MAKE HASTY DECISIONS ON MINI BUDGET, SAYS PM

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the
decision to announce the second economic stimulus package in the form of a mini
budget next month, was reached after careful preparations.

It was not something that could be done in a haste but required full details
in various aspects including the size of allocations and how to disburse it, he
said.

He said the government also had to make sure that the people would receive
direct benefits from the expenditure planned under the package.

"On the question of timing, the government has to find the best date and if
that is the best date, then it is.

"The government has given its thoughts on all these. The preparations have
to be done well; how to spend, disburse and so on. It is not something that can
be done hastily.

"If it is to be done quickly, things will be disorderly and as a result
also, the implementation cannot be carried out to its best," he told reporters
after launching the Humanitarian Fund for the Children of Gaza at Seri Perdana
here Thursday.

Abdullah was commenting on views of some economists that the mini budget to
be tabled in Parliament on March 10 was too late to tackle the present economic
crisis.
-- BERNAMA