The Official Secrets Act can be used against senior government officials who reveal classified information pertaining to the budget, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim ( photo ) today.

The minister said this in response to Opposition Leader Abdul Hadi Awang's ( photo ) claim that senior government officials gave the opposition information about the 2003 budget which will be unveiled by the government this Friday.

Hadi was quoted in two Malays dailies today as saying that this information helped the Barisan Alternatif to draft a shadow budget.

The alternative budget, dubbed 3Ks Kemakmuran

Keadilan dan Kesejahteraan (prosperity, justice and well-being) was presented in detail at the Parliament meeting room by Universiti Malaya's Prof Dr KS Jomo yesterday.

Abdul Hadi, who is also PAS acting president and Terengganu menteri besar is expected to present the BA budget in Parliament after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad delivers his budget speech.