Budget 2018: Govt will honour its promises, says Najib

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 KUALA LUMPUR- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak attends the 9th ASEAN Para Games (APG) Basketball final match between Malaysia and Thailand at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah at 1715 (0915 GMT) KUALA LUMPUR- Press conference by Allana Group, India

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says he will study the recommendations by the Umno supreme council and the rakyat thoroughly for Budget 2018.  

The Prime Minister said the budget will be a balanced one as usual and the Government will continue to honour the promises and commitments that it had made. 

"In other words, we cannot have a populist budget in the sense that it is fiscally irresponsible.

"We have to be prudent, but at the same time, there are certain programmes which concerned the welfare of the people that we must try to include in the budget.  

"There are also certain sectors that we need to give impetus.  

"These are sectors that can contribute towards the country's growth, our gross national income, and the people's welfare.  

"It will be given the necessary consideration in Budget 2018," he told a press conference after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Friday evening.  

Najib added that the supreme council hoped the Government takes stern action, especially on the issue of the safety of tahfiz students. 

He also said he will make an announcement on religious schools nationwide in Budget 2018.  

Najib added that the Government's success in launching the mass rapid transit (MRT), the 60th Merdeka celebration and Malaysia's SEA Games have given Barisan Nasional a positive momentum.  

"In political situations like this, we have to ensure that we can maintain a continuous positive momentum," he said.  

Najib also said that the Umno General Assembly, which will be held from Dec 5 to Dec 9, will be a lively one.  

On a separate note, he said Barisan is the only party that submitted the names of its candidates to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for vetting.  

Part of the list has since been submitted to the anti-graft agency while the remaining ones will be submitted once Barisan confirms the list.