By Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Hj. Mokhtar, Managing Director
In the first budget after the 60th year of Merdeka, Budget 2018 was comprehensive, balanced and fiscally responsible, with the deficit narrowing further to a forecasted 2.8% of GDP, from 6.7% in 2009. While emphasising inclusive growth with many measures to alleviate pain points for the Rakyat in the short run, Budget 2018 was also able to focus on long-run competitiveness to future-proof the economy and society at large.
Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”) and our investee companies look forward to continue to play our part in delivering the economic and social development measures in Budget 2018, in particular in delivering productivity-based employee benefits, empowerment of women, retraining of unemployed graduates under Skim Latihan 1Malaysia (“SL1M”) and specific measures for the promotion of medical tourism, removal of tolls at specific highways, investing in venture capital, and provision of airport and aviation services, among others.
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