TO come up with a scholarly speech. In presenting Malaysia's 1996 budget last month, the deputy prime minister and finance minister drove home his points with lines from the Koran, Chinese philosopher Mencius and Indian statesman Kautilya. The worry is that overheating will fuel inflation and stall the economy. But the key to managing growth, many experts argue, is the rescheduling of mega-projects such as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Kuala Lumpur City Center, site of the world's tallest building, the twin Petronas Towers.
Most construction is already well under way.
Some say Anwar's curbs on consumption can be stronger. The budget is still mildly expansionary. Nik Din, executive chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, hopes the windfall will be used for investments. The market did not share his optimism. Sluggish for months, the composite index fell nearly eight points after Anwar presented his proposals to Parliament Oct. 27.