Use Budget 2015 as guideline when preparing state budgets - Ahmad

Budget 2015 should be used as the basis and guideline by state governments when preparing their budgets as it addresses the people's concerns in a holistic manner.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said a survey by the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister's Department found that Malaysians need five things for a good life.

"They are -- lower cost of living, employment, home ownership, education and welfare. Advancing the Bumiputera agenda to ensure they are not left out is a brave move by the prime minister," he told reporters after a briefing for civil servants on the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) here, Sunday.

Ahmad said the five requirements and advancing the Bumiputera agenda should be the focus of the state governments when preparing their budgets.

On the GST, he said the government will strictly enforce the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and introduce guidelines on price control to prevent cheating.

"The prime minister also announced the NGOs picked as price monitoring partners with the Home Ministry and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.

"I hope Malaysians will equip themselves with knowledge on consumerism and financial management as it will help to empower economic stability and give a lesson to greedy traders," he added.