KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 21): Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua claims Budget 2017 shows the government is running out of cash very quickly and is struggling to balance its revenue and expenses. The DAP publicity secretary noted that Najib had in Budget 2016, announced the government expected to collect RM225.7 billion in revenue for 2016. The government now estimates 2016 operating expenditure to drop from RM215.2 billion to RM207.1 billion, while development expenditure will drop from RM50 billion to only RM45 billion. Pua claimed Putrajaya’s ability to allocate the already-limited operating expenditure budget is further constricted by emoluments and debt servicing. “Subsidies and social assistance” has already been reduced from RM39.7 billion in 2014 to RM27.3 billion (2015), to an estimated RM24.6 billion (2016).

Source: The Edge Markets October 21, 2016 10:41 UTC