PUCHONG: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim criticised the deputy prime minister’s management of the economy today, accusing Datuk Seri Najib Razak of being too focused on politics at the expense of governing the country in the face of a global economic crisis.
Najib, as Finance Minister, announced an RM7 billion stimulus package last November, but assumptions made then are no longer valid as the country’s exports have plunged more sharply than anticipated because global market demand for the country’s products has plummeted.
The government is expected to announce a stimulus package worth more than RM30 billion next month, according to a report in Sin Chew Daily today.
Anwar is, however, not impressed and says that the mini-budget is too late.
“While the leaders of other countries have acknowledged that serious measures are needed to fight the economic slowdown, Malaysia has not issued such statements because the finance minister is too busy abducting people,” says Anwar, referring to the three former Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Perak state representatives who were incommunicado for several days until they resurfaced in a press conference to declare that they had defected.
“Only on March 10th will he finally take additional steps to tackle the slowdown.”
Anwar said this at the official opening of a new classroom block at the Sin Ming Chinese school in Puchong.
While much of the world has been focussed on the grim global economic outlook, politics has dominated Malaysia in recent months.
BN and PR parties have been embroiled in a constitutional impasse in Perak in recent weeks following the defections and the formation of a new government.
PR leaders have also accused BN parties of trying to engineer more defections in Selangor and Kedah.
The Umno elections and the upcoming by-elections in Kedah, Perak and possibly Selangor is also a major distraction.
Najib is seen as the man behind the attempts to topple PR state governments as part of a bid to boost flagging support for Umno and BN ahead of him taking over as prime minister at the end of March.
The DPM is also keen to use the mini-budget, expected to be announced on March 10, to give BN a political boost ahead of the Umno polls.
At the onset of the global financial turmoil late last year, the government had remained optimistic on the outlook for Malaysia.
However, analysts and economists have been painting a grim picture for Malaysia and this has finally forced the government to revise downwards its economic growth forecasts and come up with supplementary stimulus measures.
Najib, as Finance Minister, announced an RM7 billion stimulus package last November, but assumptions made then are no longer valid as the country’s exports have plunged more sharply than anticipated because global market demand for the country’s products has plummeted.
The government is expected to announce a stimulus package worth more than RM30 billion next month, according to a report in Sin Chew Daily today.
Anwar is, however, not impressed and says that the mini-budget is too late.
“While the leaders of other countries have acknowledged that serious measures are needed to fight the economic slowdown, Malaysia has not issued such statements because the finance minister is too busy abducting people,” says Anwar, referring to the three former Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Perak state representatives who were incommunicado for several days until they resurfaced in a press conference to declare that they had defected.
“Only on March 10th will he finally take additional steps to tackle the slowdown.”
Anwar said this at the official opening of a new classroom block at the Sin Ming Chinese school in Puchong.
While much of the world has been focussed on the grim global economic outlook, politics has dominated Malaysia in recent months.
BN and PR parties have been embroiled in a constitutional impasse in Perak in recent weeks following the defections and the formation of a new government.
PR leaders have also accused BN parties of trying to engineer more defections in Selangor and Kedah.
The Umno elections and the upcoming by-elections in Kedah, Perak and possibly Selangor is also a major distraction.
Najib is seen as the man behind the attempts to topple PR state governments as part of a bid to boost flagging support for Umno and BN ahead of him taking over as prime minister at the end of March.
The DPM is also keen to use the mini-budget, expected to be announced on March 10, to give BN a political boost ahead of the Umno polls.
At the onset of the global financial turmoil late last year, the government had remained optimistic on the outlook for Malaysia.
However, analysts and economists have been painting a grim picture for Malaysia and this has finally forced the government to revise downwards its economic growth forecasts and come up with supplementary stimulus measures.
22/02/09
Yeah, how about news on something along this line: "Umno's top gun's pilot son also busy supporting 'abduction of children' in henious child pornography crime in Australia whilst serving for MAS!" For all we know, all those missing, unresolved cases of abducted, raped and murdered children, might be connected to this? Also for PR to investigate the supposed corruption deal between SPRM (MACC .ie. "Cow Agency") Director General AHMAD SAID BIN HAMDAN "who has himself come to a CORRUPT agreement with IDRIS JALA , the Managing Director and others in Malaysia Airlines (MAS), not to take disciplinary action as required in the company policy's against his son for his criminal conviction" (see http://drsaravananr.blogspot.com/2008/02/malaysian-pilot-caught-for-child.html).Please read my comment below to Adelaide Now News as published yesterday, and see the links below on this:
ReplyDeleteStory Comment Published
From: help.news@ (news.com.au help.news@news.com.au)
Sent: Sunday, 22 February 2009 12:53:16 PM
Your comment has been published:
I am a Malaysian and feel appalled by the defence lawyer's argument! The suspected criminal's very brief detention compared to him being complicit in supporting what should be considered a horrendous crime, that is child sexual abuse, yes that's what it is in reality, is considered too harsh for this man! And yet, the defenceless young victims, including the 10 year old rape video is considered as if fiction and pure entertainment! Yes, rape it is, because she is underage! Australia, as a civilized and progressive nation-state, please illustrate yourself as the role model in applying the the should-be-taken-very seriously UN Convention on the Rights of the Child!
Posted by: Katharina Sri (former: Noor Aza Othman) of Germany 8:10am today
Comment 11 of 17
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