Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said among hundreds of incentives announced in the 2012 Budget yesterday, only two were identical to the alternative budget (shadow budget) proposed by the opposition in the orange book.

They were the RM500 one-off assistance for households with a monthly income of less than RM3,000 and assistance for primary and secondary school students, he added.

Ahmad Zahid Umno VP He said the 2012 Budget, tabled by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Parliament yesterday, was more holistic than the budget proposed by the opposition in its orange book.

"The 2012 Budget tabled by the prime minister is more practical," Ahmad Zahid ( right )told reporters at a function at the National Agrobusiness Terminal (Teman) near Kota Baharu, yesterday in response to allegations by the opposition that the 2012 Budget was an election budget.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, who was also present at the function, said the 2012 Budget provided a balance between spiritual and physical development because it gave priority to the people's welfare.

The opposition chief in the Kelantan State Assembly, Md Alwi Che Amad, said the 2012 Budget was a people's budget.

Also present at the function were International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed and Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin.

- Bernama