PM:SPEND FUNDS UNDER STIMULUS PACKAGE EFFECTIVELY

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- The money allocated in the second stimulus package, to be tabled in the Lower House of Parliament on March 10, must be spent effectively, otherwise it will be a waste of money, says Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The implementation of the second stimulus package, which will target certain
specfic sectors, must be good, he said during a question and answer session at
the "An Evening With The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi
- A Prime Minister's Passage" organised by the Kuala Lumpur Business Club here
Monday night.

He said the second stimulus package will also create more employment.

The Prime Minister also hoped that there would not be too many retrenchment
amid the current economic slowdown.

Asked for his advice in facing the crisis, Abdullah said everybody needed to
work hard.

"We have survived so many crises. We know what we can do, and what to do,"
he said.

He said mutual support from the private sector, the people and the
Government was essential at this time.

The private sector is the agent for economic growth when the situation is
good, but when the situation is difficult, the public sector is the agent for
growth, he said.

There are many things that the Government can do and the private sector
cannot do, he said.

He said now was the time to cooperate as the Government was going to
introduce the second stimulus package, which will be much bigger than the first
stimulus package.
-- BERNAMA