• Preview: Record expansionary budget expected
  • Wong Choon Mei
  • 1219899868
  • Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is tipped to unveil an expansionary budget for 2009 tomorrow, with total spending to hit a record RM190 billion, in a bid to pump-prime the slowing economy and stem rising voter disenchantment with his administration and political party.

    The budget speech, to be delivered at 4 pm, will be closely watched both for its economic message and because of newly sworn-in opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who has pledged to form a new government by Sept 16.

    Anwar had promised voters one of his first tasks in Parliament would be to sit directly facing the beleaguered premier and eyeball the details of the latest financial plan for the country.

    • Biggest budget so far
    • Focus on the poor, food costs