PM: It’s a caring Budget - The Star

By Yeng Ai Chun and Roslina Mohamad

KEPALA BATAS: Budget 2009 is not about the Government wanting to gain back its popularity but for it to fulfil its responsibility to the people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said the Government had a responsibility to the people, adding that the Budget was a “caring budget.”

“If we don’t give, we are accused of being uncaring, that we do not have feelings and we are deaf to the people’s hardship.

“But when we give, we want to be popular. So how now? What do you choose? Give or don’t give?” he said after chairing the Bertam Umno branch meeting yesterday.

When asked to comment about Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remark that the budget is akin to giving gula-gula (sweets) to the poor and the people in Sabah and Sarawak, Abdullah said Anwar also does the same.

“He also tried to sweeten the people by saying he would cut petrol prices by 70 sen. Isn’t that sweets?” replied Abdullah, adding that the Government had received many good responses to the Budget.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/31/budget2009/22213329&sec=budget2009]