PM’s dept gets bulk of 2014 Budget due to capital expenditure, says Idris Jala

The Prime Minister's Department received one of the biggest allocations under the 2014 Budget because its Economic Planning Unit (EPU) captures all capital expenditure for development planning throughout the country, its minister Datuk Seri Idris Jala (pic) said today.

He said the EPU is a big organisation that coordinates all economic transformation programmes that involve capital expenditure to grow the national economy.

"I am happy with the budget of RM16.45 billion. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the budget is about fulfilling promises that do not burden the people," he told reporters after opening the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (Capam) regional forum 2013 here.

He said under the budget, the fiscal deficit would continue to be reduced to ensure the country strengthens its economic resilience and accelerates the government transformation programmes

Malaysia's targeted gradual reduction is from 4.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) last year to 4% this year, 3.5% next year and 3% in 2015, he said.

The goods and services tax (GST), when it becomes the replacement tax in April 2015, would broaden the tax base without burdening the people as essential items like rice, poultry, fish and onions would not be affected, he said.

Earlier, he said key performance indicators would ensure that the government and civil servants are accountable to the public in the implementation of the various transformation programmes. - Bernama