BUTTERWORTH: The views from all industry players will be taken into consideration in formulating the economic stimulus package to mitigate adverse external economic impacts brought about by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the government was willing to receive any proposal and input.
"As I said, this afternoon I am going for a closed-door dialogue session with industry players.
"So, we will be willing to receive any proposal and input," he told newsmen at the opening of the new McDonald's Drive-Thru in Bagan Ajam here today.
He was asked to comment on calls for the government to reduce the sales and services tax (SST) as part of a measure to minimise the impact of the outbreak on the nation’s economy.
Lim said the government had put in place various measures, but stopped short of revealing details.
"I would not want to go into details, otherwise I think there will be no point in making a formal announcement (on the matter).
"Please wait for the prime minister to make a full and complete announcement on Feb 27," he said.
On Friday, Lim had said that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would announce the economic simulus package on Feb 27.
He had said the package, aimed at preserving the welfare of the people, was neither a new budget nor part of the 2020 Budget.
It was also said that assistance would be given to affected sectors to allow the economy to emerge as whole as possible and benefit from the expected economic rebound post-Covid-19.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said domestic tourism would certainly be beefed up under the ecnomic stimulus package.
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) had recently proposed to Putrajaya to reduce the SST by 2 per cent for 12 months as part of a measure to minimise the impact of the outbreak on the nation’s economy.
FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai had said that the reduction of the tax would boost business conditions.