Prime Minister observes preparation of Budget 2017

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak observed the preparation of Budget 2017 in the treasury at Kompleks Kementerian Kewangan, here, Thursday night.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister and wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrived at 9pm and were met by ministry officials involved in the preparation of the budget.

Also present were Second Finance Minister, Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani, Deputy Finance Ministers, Senator Datuk Lee Chee Leong and Datuk Othman Aziz, Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Treasury secretary-general, Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Abdullah Serigar.

Najib was later taken to the budget operation rooms. He is scheduled to table Budget 2017 in Parliament (Dewan Rakyat) from 4pm Friday.

In the official Facebook page of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Thursday, Najib said Budget 2017 will reflect the government's commitment to ensure that the country's economic fundamentals remain robust and strong.

The essence of the budget will include a policy on deficit targets, measures to spur economic activities and efforts to ensure long-term financial health.

He refuted the assumption of some commentators that Budget 2017 will be 'general election' budget.

In his Facebook page today, Najib said he will announce something about the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) programme and some initiatives in Budget 2017. -- Bernama