PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the coming Budget 2023, to be tabled in October, will touch every segment of society, with a focus on preparing everyone to face the challenges of the world economy, which is expected to be more “bleak” next year.
The Prime Minister said the engagement process for budget preparation is currently underway and will involve several parties.
“We will meet everyone, including the opposition. We will meet all of them, associations, the business community, farmers and breeders. The budget consultation will be held next week,” he said in “An Interview with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob”, themed “Inspirasi Setahun Keluarga Malaysia” at Seri Perdana here.
Saturday marked Ismail Sabri’s one-year anniversary in leading the “Keluarga Malaysia” government
On Aug 15, Ismail Sabri said that Budget 2023 will, among other things, continue to emphasise the welfare of Keluarga Malaysia.
It will also take into account the
country’s readiness to face the possibility of a more challenging global economic crisis.
In July, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the IMF expects the global economic situation to continue to be challenging in 2022 and 2023, with an increased risk of recession.
According to the IMF, the overall outlook is described as “extremely uncertain,” and inflation rates will rise sharply, causing central banks in major economies to tighten monetary policy.
Commenting further, Ismail Sabri said he is confident that the tabling of the 2023 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat will obtain the full support of the opposition because it is one of the essences signed by both parties in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability.
“The budget, in terms of the MoU, they (the opposition) should support us. The same process as last year’s budget, they will give the support, in terms of the MoU, unless the election is held before the tabling of the budget,” he said.
The MoU, which was signed in September last year, aims to bring stability and a new dimension to the country’s politics. No end date has been set, and both parties agree to cooperate; support will be given to the Prime Minister until Parliament is dissolved.
Meanwhile, the Government is prepared to consider increasing the allocation for the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the 2023 Budget which is expected to be tabled in October.
Ismail Sabri said this was because the MOH was one of the important ministries that deal directly with the people.
“During the recent coordination meeting of the development projects under RMK12 (12th Malaysia Plan), I was informed that MOH needs to be assisted in the coming budget.
“YB KJ (Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin) has asked for the expenditure to be increased to five per cent of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Right now it’s 2.5 per cent, there’s another half.
“The EPU (Economic Planning Unit) will look into this. God willing, there will be at least a slight increase in the budget this year compared to previous years,” he said when opening the Bera Hospital in Bera, Saturday.
