Najib: Malaysia Strong to Weather the Sluggish Global Economy

BY AZURA ABAS
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s economic fundamentals are still strong to weather the sluggish global economy, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tonight.

The country, he said, should focus more on these strong fundamentals to ensure fast recovery from the backlash of weakened Ringgit and slow global economic trend nowadays.

"By focusing on these fundamentals, sentiments eventually will improve and we can recover fast.

"However, if (economic) fundamentals are weak as what is happening in Europe and at other countries, a nation can suffer a fate far worse," he said this at a dinner to appreciate those involved in preparing the 2015 Budget and the retirees from Treasury.

Malaysia, Najib, added had made the right move to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by April next year in view of the uncertainties in the global economy.

He said GST could give the much needed support should the country's revenue is affected.

Asides from working on expanding the country's economy, Najib wants more to be done to help the people.

He urged the Finance Ministry to focus on two other aspects — namely to decrease the country's Gini coefficient gap between the poor and the rich and to boost the country's revenue based on higher productivity.

Source: New Straits Times