NST Online: Latest
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| 2012 Budget expected to tackle inflation fears Posted: 06 Oct 2011 11:02 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian premier Najib Razak is expected to unveil measures Friday to spur domestic demand and help consumers cope with inflation in a budget likely to be his last before he calls snap polls. Najib is expected put the brakes on a programme to cut subsides on fuel and other items and could announce a hike in civil servant pay to appease a cost-conscious electorate, analysts said. The 2012 budget will aim to "ensure social justice while keeping our country on the strong economic course that will deliver long-term prosperity for all," he said in a statement Thursday.
The prime minister is due to call fresh elections by 2013 and is widely expected to do so within months. With inflation around two-year highs — it was 3.3 percent in August — cost-of-living concerns figure to loom large with voters.
"Of course if he does not address the impact of rising costs, the low-income group will vote for the opposition," added Yeah, who expects a "strong social focus" in the budget. A once-insignificant opposition scored unprecedented gains in 2008 parliamentary elections that saw the long-ruling coalition now headed by Najib lose its two-thirds majority for the first time.
But costs of those items subsequently surged and had a knock-on effect on transport and other essential commodities that had already spiked in tandem with rising world prices. Najib is expected to unveil bonuses and possibly salary hikes for civil servants in a further bid to boost domestic demand as a hedge against a possible drop in export orders stemming from weak overseas markets. In his statement Thursday, Najib also promised a "fiscally responsible" budget that remained focused on deficit reduction. Malaysia's economy grew a strong 7.2 percent in 2010 but the government has forecast that to ease to between five and six percent this year. |
| Cops probe Qantas threats, travellers delayed Posted: 06 Oct 2011 10:21 PM PDT SYDNEY: Australian police Friday confirmed they were investigating alleged death threats against Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, as the airline's passengers faced more disruption due to a strike row. Qantas revealed this week that Joyce had received a death threat, managers had been sent menacing letters and strike-breaking workers bullied as the carrier attempts to refocus its business towards Asia. The airline did not detail the threats against Irish-born Joyce but the letter reportedly read: "It's coming soon Paddy. You can't even see it." Joyce, who is facing opposition from pilots, engineers and ground staff to his reforms to the iconic Australian airline, also received another death threat after the first was made public, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
"It will examine all circumstances surrounding the allegations," a police spokesman said. Unions are locked in protracted contract talks over pay and conditions with Qantas, which has said it will slash 1,000 jobs as part of its new Asia focus.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) called off the strike late on Thursday but Qantas said this was too late to stop contingency plans from being implemented and 17 flights were cancelled and 29 delayed, affecting 5,700 travellers. Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association were to hold a one-hour strike at Melbourne Airport on Friday afternoon but this was only expected to cause minor delays. - AFP |
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