Wahid: Higher fiscal deficit target within plan

PUTRAJAYA: The Government expects financial analysts and international rating agencies to understand and view favourably Malaysia’s decision to revise higher its fiscal deficit target for 2015, given the prevailing global economic uncertainties, especially with regards to crude oil prices, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar.

“The revised fiscal deficit target of 3.2% of GDP (gross domestic product) is still an improvement from last year, and it is still very much within our long-term plan to move towards a balanced budget by 2020,” Wahid said in response to questions as to whether the higher fiscal deficit target for 2015 would affect the Malaysia’s sovereign ratings.