KUALA LUMPUR:The government may need to inject additional funds to stabilise the country's economy should a fourth wave of Covid-19 occur, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy), Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He said Malaysia and the world in general were still struggling with the pandemic and that the current situation could be regarded as dynamic.
"There are concerns about a fourth wave of the Covid-19 virus and at the same time, we hope that it will subside with the availability of vaccines," he said today in a discussion on 'Economic Prospects 2021: What Do Traders Expect, What Can Young People Hope For?'
On the additional funds, he said the government has not set any limit as its priority is the people's lives and employment.
"The available funds are from loans and there's no limit, but at the same time, it does have an effect on the country's fiscal deficit," he said.
Malaysia's fiscal deficit rose to six per cent of the gross national product (GDP) this year, a drastic increase since the 2009 global financial crisis because of the stimulus packages introduced by the government in the wake of the pandemic.
Mustapa said Malaysia will receive Covid-19 vaccine supplies by the first quarter of 2021, to hopefully stabilise the country's economy.
"The vaccine is anticipated to support the country's economic recovery alongside the government's efforts and strategies this year to stabilise the economy including Budget 2021, PRIHATIN economic stimulus package and National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA)," he said.
Meanwhile, SME Association of Malaysia vice-president Chin Chee Seong said he was grateful that Budget 2021 was passed by Parliament.
"However, we hope there will be political stability and no elections just yet as political stability has a direct impact on the economic stability of SMEs," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Dec 21 2020
![COVID-19: Fund injection necessary if there is 4th wave - Mustapa COVID-19: Fund injection necessary if there is 4th wave - Mustapa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/51607089438_DatukSeriMustapa.jpg)
Mustapa said Malaysia and the world in general were still struggling with the pandemic and that the current situation could be regarded as dynamic. -File photo
![Suspek kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini belum ditahan tugas - Polis Perak Suspek kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini belum ditahan tugas - Polis Perak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721098519_suspekbunuhNurFar.jpg)
Suspek kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini belum ditahan tugas - Polis Perak
Polis Perak sedang menunggu hasil siasatan terhadap suspek yang juga anggota di kontinjen negeri itu sebelum tindakan jabatan diambil berhubung kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah.
![Media diingatkan tidak keluar kenyataan langkau siasatan polis Media diingatkan tidak keluar kenyataan langkau siasatan polis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61711350467_TBHUSSEINOMARjp.jpg)
Media diingatkan tidak keluar kenyataan langkau siasatan polis
Pengamal media diingatkan supaya tidak mengeluarkan sebarang kenyataan melangkaui siasatan polis berhubung mana-mana kes dalam proses siasatan.
![Isu salah guna kuasa: Tiada kompromi terhadap anggota PBT terlibat - Dr Zaliha Isu salah guna kuasa: Tiada kompromi terhadap anggota PBT terlibat - Dr Zaliha](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718274360_ZalihaMustafa.jpg)
Isu salah guna kuasa: Tiada kompromi terhadap anggota PBT terlibat - Dr Zaliha
Terserah kepada SPRM atau mana-mana agensi penguat kuasa untuk mengambil tindakan sewajarnya terhadap individu yang melanggar peraturan.
![Vietnam sasar capai 100 peratus liputan jalur lebar di lebuh raya, landasan kereta api menjelang 2025 Vietnam sasar capai 100 peratus liputan jalur lebar di lebuh raya, landasan kereta api menjelang 2025](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721207496_vietnamlebuhraya.jpg)
Vietnam sasar capai 100 peratus liputan jalur lebar di lebuh raya, landasan kereta api menjelang 2025
Sasaran ini adalah berikutan rancangan Kementerian Penerangan dan Komunikasi untuk meningkatkan kualiti rangkaian telekomunikasi mudah alih.
![Bunuh kekasih hamil: Bekas polis terlepas hukuman gantung Bunuh kekasih hamil: Bekas polis terlepas hukuman gantung](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721202906_bunuhkekasih.jpg)
Bunuh kekasih hamil: Bekas polis terlepas hukuman gantung
Seorang bekas anggota polis terlepas tali gantung selepas Mahkamah Persekutuan mengetepikan hukuman gantung terhadapnya kerana membunuh kekasihnya yang hamil pada 2015.
AWANI Ringkas: Presiden UMNO serah kepada rauf ambil tindakan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
J.D Vance pernah menjadi pengkritik utama Trump
J.D Vance yang diumumkan sebagai bakal Naib Presiden Amerika Syarikat yang akan bergandingan dengan calon Republikan, Donald Trump membuat pengakuan bahawa sebelum ini beliau merupakan pengkritik keras Trump.
Babydog ramal kemenangan besar Parti Republikan
Tidak cukup penganalisis politik, anjing pun dijadikan sandaran meramalkan siapa Presiden Amerika Syarikat.
''Polisi saya untuk warga kulit hitam lebih baik'' - Biden
Joe Biden nafi dakwaan Trump, yang mendakwa kebajikan warga kulit hitam di Amerika Syarikat tidak mendapat perhatian.
![‘The Experts’ gegarkan 18 pawagam di Kemboja bermula hari ini ‘The Experts’ gegarkan 18 pawagam di Kemboja bermula hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721200186_theexperts.jpg)
‘The Experts’ gegarkan 18 pawagam di Kemboja bermula hari ini
Filem rompakan tempatan nombor satu Malaysia, The Experts terus melangkah jauh dengan menembusi pasaran di negara Kemboja bermula hari ini.