Keep a close eye on deficit, says economist of manifestos

Kuala Lumpur: A prominent economist has highlighted that there was a need to continue on fiscal discipline path even post elections.

The Socio-Economic Research Centre’s executive director Lee Heng Guie said that while there was promises by the incumbent BN government of increasing handouts like the Brim, that these had to ultimately be paid through another budget allocation.

“It is a very big amount cumulatively and it has also increased. Plus they have also added another category or group of people that are eligible. In the bigger picture it is better to move on from just pure handouts and this should rightfully only target the very needy groups of people,” Lee said at a press conference.

“Irrespective of what the government would like to do, it is very important that the path to fiscal discipline of reducing deficits be kept on track,” he added.