Kuala Lumpur
DESPITE insisting that Budget 2017 was not designed with snap elections in mind, Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday ensured that nearly every segment of society got something in the nation's spending and revenue plan - and took potshots at his critics while at it.
Mr Najib, who is also the finance minister, said the economy is projected to grow by 4 to 5 per cent next year, and presented a RM261 billion (S$87 billion) budget - 3.4 per cent larger than last year's recalibrated spending plan.
He gave assurance that Putrajaya was committed to fiscal consolidation; the fiscal deficit target of RM40 billion amounts to 3 per cent of GDP, down from 3.1 per cent this year. "We...