Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he believed that Budget 2013 would be a people-friendly budget in view of the approaching general election.  

"I think the budget will be one which will help the people and not impose any burden on them. In view of the impending general election, it has to be a friendly budget," he told reporters after opening a seminar on national economic transformation in Alor Setar.

 

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak is scheduled to table Budget 2013 in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday.  

Mahathir said he felt that it was all right to raise duty on cigarettes and liquor but not anything else.  

On another matter, he said action should be taken against Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham who had questioned Muslim outrage against the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ which insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Asked whether this showed that the DAP did not respect the struggle of PAS, its partner in Pakatan Rakyat which also comprises PKR, he said the DAP and PAS could not get along.

"Like a dog and a cat, they will fight. When they are in government, they will be bickering constantly," he added.

- Bernama