FORMER MINISTER HOPES MINI BUDGET CAN FILL GAP

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12(Bernama) -- Former International Trade and Industry
Minister Rafidah Aziz hopes that the initiatives announced by the government in
the mini budget will be adequate to fill the gap caused by the drop in
investment and private spending.

"We want economic growth to be revived so that there is no continuous
decline in the growth rate. So it's the government which tries to fill the gap
through investment, infrastructure and other means, including various forms of
spending," she told reporters after chairing a special meeting of ruling Barisan
Nasional Women's Wing here Wednesday.

Rafidah said foreign direct investment was declining as the usual investing
countries were facing their own economic problems.

"The foreign investment sources for Malaysia and neighbouring countries are
getting less. So we have to ensure that our sources of growth come from within
now," she said.

She also said that all countries, including the United States, Japan and
those in Europe, were now busy managing their own economies to ensure the
recovery of their respective companies.
-- BERNAMA