Breaking News-RTRS-MALAYSIA'S FINANCE MIN SAYS 2008 GDP GROWTH LIKELY AT LEAST 5 PCT

16:53 04Nov08 RTRS-MALAYSIA'S FINANCE MIN SAYS 2008 GDP GROWTH LIKELY AT LEAST 5 PCT
16:55 04Nov08 RTRS-MALAYSIA SAYS 2009 GDP GROWTH SEEN AT 3.5 PCT
16:55 04Nov08 RTRS-MALAYSIA SAYS 2009 FISCAL DEFICIT SEEN AT 4.8 PCT
16:58 04Nov08 RTRS-Malaysia slashes growth forecasts, ups deficit
16:59 04Nov08 RTRS-MALAYSIA SAYS WILL ADOPT EXPANSIONARY BUDGET POLICY
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Malaysia's government reduced its 2009 economic growth forecast to 3.5 percent from a prior forecast of 5.4 percent and upped its budget deficit target for the year to 4.8 percent of gross domestic product from 3.6 percent.
Najib Razak, who is both deputy prime minister and finance minister, made the announcement in parliament on Tuesday at the end of the budget debate.