While briefing media editors here today, Najib said his budget team had worked for hours over long sessions to prepare the budget as everybody’s expectations were high.
He added that he expected the people to have an understanding of what a budget means, as it must reflect the sound economic, financial and fiscal management of a country.
Budget 2018 will be tabled in Parliament at 3.30pm tomorrow.
“It starts at 3.30pm for the first time because maghrib is at 7pm. We want to make sure that there is time for asar prayers and that it won’t prolong into maghrib.
“We cannot change the time of maghrib, but the budget time can be changed,” he said, adding that the speech would not be too long although he had a lot to say.
Najib said preparing Budget 2018 was yet another big challenge as whatever was said or done would cause it to be seen as an election budget.
However, Najib said the government had in fact been consistent in introducing its projects, adding that the proposed opposition budget was even more populist.
“The opposition budget is not based on facts or figures and will create a big hole in government finances.
“They do not have a cohesive leadership, and this is reflected in their budget proposals which lack credibility and consistency.
“It shows that their measures are purely populist but cannot be backed by substance such as revenue. The measures are not doable and therefore not sustainable.”
He added however that it was a moral duty to ensure that the opposition gets a fair share of Budget 2018.
“For example, water supply. It is the moral duty of the federal government to ensure water supply.
“We cannot deprive the people from getting clean water just because we don’t rule their states. Even some of the highways run through opposition-controlled states.
“We want to show that we are responsible and there are times we have to rise above politics. We have to fulfil our moral obligation as a government,” he said.