KUALA LUMPUR: Food security will be among the issues given focus in the 2023 Budget, slated to be tabled on Feb 24, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking at the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) Chinese New Year celebration today, he said the country's food imports are currently too high.
"Therefore, we will give focus on this in the upcoming 2023 Budget.
"We will scrutinise all issues that arise during our recent dialogues so that we can focus more on this," he said.
Present at the event were the Prime Minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, several ministers, deputies, ambassadors, ACCCIM office bearers, as well as corporate and organisation leaders.
Anwar adds that the proposals submitted by stakeholders including ACCCIM will be scrutinised and given attention in the budget.
He said there is also an urgent need to empower the small and medium industries (SMEs), to allow them to open up more job opportunities.
"They should be given more opportunities so that they can improve, in terms of technology and digitisation so that they can compete and bring more job opportunities," he said.
Anwar, who is also the finance ministeAnwar, who is also the finance minister, said the cabinet will also focus on issues related to the environment and economic policies that would be beneficial to all.
"We need economic policies that can accelerate the economic growth for all.
"In light of recent developments, such as the economic recession post-Covid-19 and the Ukraine-Russia war, we should be bold in introducing policies that can benefit everyone," he said.
Meanwhile, ACCCIM president Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan in his speech earlier said the Unity government must continue to build an inclusive society through public policy consensus building based on the principles of power and economic prosperity sharing, where no one is left behind.
"ACCCIM believes that maintaining a stable political environment with better governance, corruption free, highly efficient public delivery services and conducive economic ecosystem are the most essential pre-conditions for ensuring continued economic prosperity in a shared future."
Low added the chamber has submitted a comprehensive policy report titled "Build A Better Malaysia", covering political institutions, and socio and economic reforms to the premier and is looking forward to discussing and exchanging views on the current state of economic and business developments in Malaysia.
"We believe that both public-private sectors' collective strength and a strengthened sense of togetherness can rebuild an inclusive, progressive, united and harmonious Malaysia."