PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has given assurance that the government can achieve the target of reducing the country’s fiscal deficit to 5.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023 and to 3.2 percent in 2025.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said there is nothing to dispute regarding the fiscal deficit reduction target given current developments following the tabling of the revised Budget 2023.
“If we study the developments after the budget’s tabling such as increased oil revenue, (payment of) US$1.8 billion from the International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) and large investments including from Amazon Web Services and Tesla, there should be no dispute,” he said in winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2023 in Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar, who was finance minister from 1991 to 1998 under the first premiership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, added: “I have gone through this process for eight years previously, and the experience would have taught me how to lower the deficit.
“This is something that we can accomplish.”
He said that based on the latest data he has obtained, the country’s fiscal deficit has already achieved the target set.
“How are we reducing it? It is through measures that we have taken and discussed. If necessary, I will make an announcement in Parliament from time to time,” he said.
[More to follow] - Mkini
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