IPOH: Malaysia is now prepared with efforts towards achieving economic growth of more than five per cent in 2013, after recording a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.2 per cent in the third quarter of this year, says Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.
He said the country’s economic growth projection for next year was 4.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent, although he was aware that the global economy is becoming more challenging.
“We want to focus on efforts to achieve more than five per cent. Looking at the country’s economy from year to year, we must achieve this as our economy is heading towards 2020 where we have targeted to become a high-income nation,” he said to reporters after attending Tambun Parliament Deepavali celebrations in Chemor.
He said Malaysia was very fortunate as despite the global economic crisis situation, the eurozone which is experiencing negative growth as well as other countries with low economic growth such as the US and Singapore, it was able to maintain good growth. The country was not expected to have any problems in achieving the five per cent growth for the full year this year, he said.
Ahmad Husni, who is also Member of Parliament for Tambun, said the country’s economic achievement was also influenced by the New Economic Model introduced by the government to increase income and happiness rate.
“Malaysia’s New Economic Model is different from those of other countries which focus on increasing income solely.
We focus on exclusive concept where every revenue will be enjoyed by all levels of society regardless of race, in cities and rural areas,” he said.
The government is making efforts to increase the quality of life in various aspects such as health, education and reducing crime rate as these are the foundation of happiness to the rakyat.
On Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) 2.0, Ahmad Husni said the government has not fixed the closing date for registration for those who are eligible for the scheme but asked that the registration be made this November and December.
“We want them to register in November and December so that payment can be made faster, that is, from early next year,” he said. — Bernama