Minister in charge of the Economic Planning Unit Abdul Rahman Dahlan said Budget 2018 reflected a better position of the ruling government as an administration and admitted that the budget had election goodies for the people, reported theSun daily.
“BN is now hopeful for GE14 as the allocations in the budget cover all segments of community,” Rahman said.
However, Defence Minister Hishamuddin Hussein contradicted Rahman’s notion, saying Budget 2018 was not an election budget.
“This budget was not done to please the people or to buy votes, it is to give the people what they need,” he said.
Health Minister and MIC president Dr S Subramaniam described it as a “phenomenal” budget for the Indian community.
He said the increased 7% quota for Indians in public universities and the civil service were steps the community had long sought.
“We have been talking about these every year at the MIC annual general meeting. It finally happened,” he said.
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said said this was “the best budget so far”.
She said the government continued to be realistic in determining national economic policies by ensuring all commitments made would be fulfilled.
“I am also grateful for the three more special courts for child sexual crime which will be set up,” she said.
Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar said the budget truly addressed the outcry of the people.
“Take the waiving of the Batu Tiga and Sg Rasau tolls, these tolls are old and we have been voicing out for a long time on removing it.
“These two tolls not only trouble the people financially but also cause traffic congestion on the federal highway. The government has understood this and now fixed it,” he said.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim welcomed the move to ensure women board of directors in all the government linked companies.
“PM’s patience has reached a limit where he is giving GLCs and GLICs up to Jan 1 next year to appoint women to their board of directors. They can’t give anymore excuses or be prepared to be named and shamed,” she said.