Tires for Malaysian Cabs Expose Budget Risk Before Vote: Economy
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Malaysians like cab driver Ramakrishnan Ramachandran are getting used to handouts from the government as the next election looms. The budget deficit is set to show the strain regardless of who wins the vote.
From smartphone rebates to household electricity subsidies and higher wages for civil servants, Prime Minister Najib Razak has gone on a spending binge to woo voters ahead of polls that must be held by late June. In 2012, he announced a 35 million ringgit ($11 million) voucher program to help taxi drivers pay for new tires, and yesterday said 1,000 of them will get a grant to offset the cost of a new car from Proton Holdings Bhd.