MINI-BUDGET TO MAKE ECONOMY STRONGER AND RESILIENT: ABDULLAH

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- The second stimulus package or mini-budget to
be unveiled on March 10 is expected to make the economy stronger and more
resilient to withstand the external pressures and challenges, Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday.

"Hopefully, it (the mini-budget) will be able to deal with various issues
that we are facing at the moment," he told reporters after chairing the National
Economic Council meeting.

"What needs to be done now is to ensure the government has a good stimulus
package for our economy," he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said the second stimulus
package has to be big enough to make an impact in the domestic market.

"We are accessing the figures and percentage of the gross domestic product
and sources of funding," said Najib who is also Finance Minister.

To speed up implementation of minor work under the RM7 billion first
stimulus package announced on Nov 4 last year, Najib said the procedures for
project price quotations have been raised from RM200,000 to RM500,000.
(US$1=RM3.67)

As such, ministries and government agencies intending to implement minor
projects need not call for tenders.

"The Finance Ministry will issue a new circular on the matter," he said.

Other issues discussed at the meeting are to continue free trade agreement
negotiations with other countries, updates on small-and medium-scale enterprises
and getting bank loans for entrepreneurs, he added.
-- BERNAMA