Anwar stands by debate challenge but willing to accept conditions
The Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader told a press conference this evening that the PR leadership council had agreed during its meeting today that the challenge should not be retracted although Najib had dismissed it and claimed that such an exercise was pointless.
“The PR leadership council feels that I should go ahead with this... with certain conditions imposed by Najib for an open discussion.
“The reason is because we have come up with our own arguments, supported by our economic experts but Najib has opposed our thoughts, saying they were irresponsible and will lead the country to bankruptcy,” he said.
Anwar had challenged Najib to debate economic policies after the prime minister scoffed at PR’s 100-day programme by describing it as “too good to be true” and claiming that the country would go bankrupt if the initiatives were implemented.
But Anwar hit back and said that if his coalition took over the federal government it would be able to fund the reforms by stamping out corruption.
Yesterday, the prime minister dismissed the challenge, pointing out that voters did not need such an exercise to decide if they wanted Barisan Nasional or PR in Putrajaya.
“If we want to debate, there must be an outcome from the debate.
“I do not see one and what is important is public opinion,” Najib was quoted as telling reporters.
Anwar scoffed at the prime minister’s words, pointing out that if Najib cared about public opinion, he should accept the debate challenge.
“If you want people to judge then a responsible person, who manages the economy, and PR, which has an alternative policy, should discuss this openly,” he said.
The former deputy prime minister also dismissed the counter-challenge from Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to debate the same topic, insisting that the matter was for Najib to respond.
“He (Khairy) is trying to save the PM but the challenge is to the PM. The allegations and the condemnation are by the PM who is the Finance Minister and so we would like to have a direct response from him.
“This is the decision by the PR leadership council,” Anwar said.
The outspoken leader then added that the challenge had been directed at Najib and not Khairy, as it was on finance issues, “not an issue for an MP that is about to retire”.
Khairy had waded into the issue on Tuesday, challenging Anwar to hold a debate with him instead of the prime minister, claiming that the opposition leader “is not up to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s level.”
The federal opposition coalition had promised in its convention last month that it would offer teachers an additional RM500 allowance per month, eliminate toll charges on highways and maintain subsidies on fuel.
In defending PR’s 100-day reform promises, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had touted his administration as proof that the initiative would not bankrupt government coffers.
He said that since PR took over Penang in 2008, it had executed various welfare programmes but still achieved record budget surpluses.
Anwar had also defended the plan by stating that it would only cost RM19 billion and that would come from stamping out corruption.
Lim echoed this sentiment by claiming that Penang had hit a record RM88 million surplus in 2008 and RM77 million in 2009 through “the dividends of anti-corruption” measures.
Anwar noted today that PR would go ahead with its plans to distribute its “buku jingga” (orange book) which underlines its 100-day reforms promises across the nation within the month.
He announced that the pact would also hold a special convention to discuss economic issues this March.
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