People's incomes will increase further in five to ten years - Ahmad Husni

The people's income is expected to increase further in the coming five to ten years as a result of the various policies introduced by the government, including the initiatives in Budget 2018 tabled on Friday, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (BN-Tambun) said in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said the government had set a target to increase the people's income to 42 per cent as compared to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in line with the developed countries.

"Together with Bank Negara, I conducted a study in 2009 and found that the increase in the price of goods before that year was quite high, but our salary increase was low, so with the initiatives in the Budget, the intention is to increase the people's income.

"Previously, our (Malaysians) salaries compared to the GDP was 33 percent, and then it went up to 35 percent, and our intention is to increase it to 42 percent, which is the same with other developed countries," he said when debating the Supply Bill 2018 at the policy stage in Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.

Ahmad Husni, who was Second Finance Minister from 2009 to 2016, said he was confident Budget 2018 and future budgets will result in an increase in the people's income.

He said all parties including the opposition should support the budget as it contained initiatives to develop the country which would benefit all the people regardless of background.

"I was Second Finance Minister from 2009 until 2016. I am not bragging because I want say that Budget 2018 is the best introduced in this country because we are facing global economic challenges with very stiff competition but we managed to produce a budget which is holistic," he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Husni said all parties have to admit that the positive development enjoyed in Penang and Selangor was the outcome of policies made at the federal level such as the Economic Transformation Plan which had helped the country face global economic challenges.

He add that both states were part of Malaysia and indirectly enjoyed the results of policies which were introduced at the federal level.

The Dewan sits again today.

-- BERNAMA