ID :
85217
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 12:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/85217
The shortlink copeid
MORE IMPORTANT TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, COMFORTABLE - PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The government believes it is more
important to ensure that the people are safe and comfortable and not saddled
with economic woes rather than crippling the additional deficit.
Prime Minister Najib Razak said this was because the additional deficit
could not be avoided in the short term as all countries were facing the
quagmire.
"If we want to inject a big stimulus package, we must accept the additional
deficit. Which is more important? A bigger deficit or the people are safe and
comfortable?
"The government chooses to save the people, but when the time comes we will
tackle and reduce the deficit," he said when replying to a supplementary
question at the Lower House of Parliament Monday.
A Member of Parliament wanted to know measures taken by the government to
reduce the gaping deficit which had reached 7.6 per cent.
Najib asked the MP to wait for his budget speech on Friday to get a clearer
picture on measures to be taken by the government to tackle the additional
deficit.
To an original question from the MP, Najib said Malaysia had voiced out its
stand on the international economic and financial issues to stabilise the global
economy and prevent the crisis from aggravating.
He said Malaysia also concurred with the G20's stand to strengthen the
international financial institutions and architecture.
"Actually Malaysia was ahead in taking unconventional measures when we
fought our way out of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998," he said, adding
that in fact, the approach was being adopted by the G20.
Najib said Malaysia had called on the G-20 Summit to solve the global
economic and financial crisis, stabilise the international financial sector and
foster sustainable economic growth quickly.
The Group of 20 (G20), consisting of both major advanced and emerging
economies, has developed into a leading international platform for tackling the
financial crisis, while the Group of Seven (G7), once dubbed a club of wealthy
nations, struggles hard to stay relevant in a fast changing world.
-- BERNAMA
important to ensure that the people are safe and comfortable and not saddled
with economic woes rather than crippling the additional deficit.
Prime Minister Najib Razak said this was because the additional deficit
could not be avoided in the short term as all countries were facing the
quagmire.
"If we want to inject a big stimulus package, we must accept the additional
deficit. Which is more important? A bigger deficit or the people are safe and
comfortable?
"The government chooses to save the people, but when the time comes we will
tackle and reduce the deficit," he said when replying to a supplementary
question at the Lower House of Parliament Monday.
A Member of Parliament wanted to know measures taken by the government to
reduce the gaping deficit which had reached 7.6 per cent.
Najib asked the MP to wait for his budget speech on Friday to get a clearer
picture on measures to be taken by the government to tackle the additional
deficit.
To an original question from the MP, Najib said Malaysia had voiced out its
stand on the international economic and financial issues to stabilise the global
economy and prevent the crisis from aggravating.
He said Malaysia also concurred with the G20's stand to strengthen the
international financial institutions and architecture.
"Actually Malaysia was ahead in taking unconventional measures when we
fought our way out of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998," he said, adding
that in fact, the approach was being adopted by the G20.
Najib said Malaysia had called on the G-20 Summit to solve the global
economic and financial crisis, stabilise the international financial sector and
foster sustainable economic growth quickly.
The Group of 20 (G20), consisting of both major advanced and emerging
economies, has developed into a leading international platform for tackling the
financial crisis, while the Group of Seven (G7), once dubbed a club of wealthy
nations, struggles hard to stay relevant in a fast changing world.
-- BERNAMA
