kuala lumpur malaysian prime minister najib razak aim reduce unhappiness rise cost live unveil 2018 budget friday ahead election must hold within 10 months price rise sharply malaysia household debt among high asia najib cut subsidies 2015 impose broad-based consumption tax dent popularity leader also face political challenge mentor-turned-foe former prime minister mahathir mohamad call najib thief connection scandal state fund 1malaysia development berhad 1mdb najib deny wrongdoing najib bank new budget shore support five-year tenure end june give come election surprise announce something people friendly say brian tan singapore-based economist nomura strong global commodity price aid oil-dependent economy give najib room boost spend progress narrow fiscal deficit expect percent year compare percent 2009 would plateau next year government focus pre-election spend say moody analyst anushka shah depend ... whether spend handouts see populist whether save case see reduction deficit shah say economists expect new budget fiscal deficit target slightly 3.0 percent widen deficit would disappoint foreign investors gradually return southeast asia third large economy ringgit currency tumultuous period strengthen percent dollar year najib push pro-business stance since become premier 2009 dismantle decades-old fuel subsidies narrowly win 2013 elections stave threat sovereign rat downgrade bolster government revenue 2018 najib likely broaden scope goods service tax impose 2015 include e-commerce transactions though unlikely change percent rate extra revenue expect fund goodies malaysia 1.6 million civil servants key vote bank barisan nasional bn rule coalition mitigate strain pricy goods service civil servants saw salary hike 13 percent 2012 ahead 2013 poll recent sharp price increase may erode support among opposition naturally anticipate come budget handouts help bn win vote election malaysians expect many goodies ... budget one political tool barisan nasional prepare general election say kerk chee yee opposition democratic action party dap najib also finance minister already roll billions ringgit worth handouts palm plantation settlers arm force veterans affordable house project new school hospitals across country ensure quality life malaysians introduce affordable house steady level income growth manage cost live certain initiatives supplement income najib say government official budget website likely maintain cash handouts low income earners provide tax break middle income earners expand policies provide affordable house 4.2240 ringgit najib aim win voters last budget elections