PUTRAJAYA, Nov 6 -- Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz emerged from his office carrying a document case containing the text of his 2021 Budget speech before heading to the Dewan Rakyat at 2.35 pm today.

Prior to leaving Tengku Zafrul recited a 'doa' (prayer session) led by his ministry’s Islamic affairs officer Ustaz Mohamad Zukrillah.

Attired in a grey Baju Melayu complete with samping, Tengku Zafrul was accompanied by Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri, Deputy Finance Minister II Mohd Shahar Abdullah and ministry’s Secretary-General of Treasury Datuk Asri Hamidon.

Tengku Zafrol is scheduled to present the much-anticipated 2021 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat at 4 pm today.

Asked on his feelings to present the national annual budget for the first time, Tengku Zafrul managed to answer “okay” before entering the car.

The document case containing the 2021 Budget speech has attracted public attention as it was not the normal black briefcase which was a tradition of previous finance ministers.

This 2021 Budget was first tabled by the Perikatan Nasional government after a change of country’s administration in March this year.

Malaysians have been waiting for this budget eagerly and it is considered most important and challenging due to the spread of COVID-19 which has had a profound impact on every citizen and the country’s economy.

It is hoped that this budget will ensure the economic survival of the country as well as the lives of the people adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

-- BERNAMA