By BERNAMA / Pic By TMR File

The Budget 2018 to be tabled on Oct 27 will not only give hope to civil servants, but all Malaysians, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa (picture).

He said Budget 2018, which will be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak — who is also the finance minister — will focus on improving the economic performance and national excellence as a whole.

“Now that Budget 2018 is in process, we need to look at the allocations for development and operations,” he said when asked to comment on Najib’s speech at the 15th Civil Service Premier Assembly on Tuesday that some good news for civil servants and improvements to the public sector would be announced in Budget 2018.

“The civil service has always supported and implemented all policies approved by the government,” he told reporters at the Annual Health Seminar of the National Association of Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants (Puspanita), yesterday.

According to Ali, Malaysia was ranked the 23rd best economy out of 137 countries in terms of global competitiveness in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018 as a result of cooperation between the government and civil services.

Meanwhile on the seminar organised by Puspanita, Ali said it could raise health awareness — especially regarding heart disease and facilities provided by the government for the treatment of the disease.

At the event officiated by Health Ministry secretary general Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min, Ali also presented Puspanita’s contribution of RM400,000 to be distributed to the National Kidney Foundation, Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Baru, and Serdang Hospital, Selangor.