KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 25 (UPI) -- Malaysia's prime minister has approved an extra $2.63 billion budget for new projects such as schools, roads and hospitals in the next 18 months.
The move followed complaints from the public that funds for a five-year state development plan (ending in late 2005) were running out, with 70 percent of the funds allocated under the plan already spent.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said the extra funds were to "help the people boost their economic level as well as solve their social problems."
Analysts said this probably meant the money would be used to build schools, roads, hospitals and affordable housing, the Business Times reported.
Separately, senior government officials said the government might reduce subsidies for petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas to raise funds for development projects, the national news agency Bernama reported.
It was not immediately clear if the cuts in oil subsidies would fund part of the $2.6 billion development fund increase, or come on top of that spending.
