PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made the customary stopover at the Finance Ministry to retrieve the much awaited text of the 2017 Budget.

Clad in bright pink baju melayu, the prime minister arrived at the ministry at 3pm before he is scheduled to table the budget at the Dewan Rakyat at 4pm today.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, spent about 10 minutes at the ministry and later left with a briefcase containing the budget text.

All eyes will be on Najib today when he delivers the 2017 Budget, which had been described as a commitment-geared financial plan for the country.

The prime minister smiled and showed the black briefcase to the horde of assembled photographers before going into the waiting car and making his way to Parliament.

It was reported that the budget would focus on ways to raise disposable income among the rakyat and to encourage upscaling, re-skilling and entrepreneurship training.

More fiscal incentives for the people and the businesses, especially the small-and-medium companies, are also on the cards.

The middle-class or the M40 are also expected to benefit indirectly from improved amenities and increase in supply of affordable homes.

For the 1.6 million in the civil sector, additional incentives await them.

The government is said will continue giving priorities to the nation’s education, healthcare and infrastructure.-nst