Economics

Najib Gives ‘Mother of All Budgets’ as He Gears Up for Election

  • 2018 GDP growth projected at 5%-5.5%, 2017 forecast was raised
  • Fiscal deficit to narrow to 2.8% of GDP in 2018 from 3%

Najib Razak

Photographer: Charles Pertwee/Bloomberg
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Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak is preparing for an election battle.

Armed with higher revenue, he is cutting taxes next year and giving more exemptions while painting a rosier economic picture to lure voters battling higher costs of living.