‘Nothing done to stop RM20b yearly losses’

Athi Shankar | October 1, 2011

Alternative budget will propose drastic measures to cut on the colossal monetary wastage, says the opposition leader.

BALIK PULAU: Every year, the country suffers about RM20 billion in losses through monetary leakages via corruption, wastage and money laundering, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said.

“But what is the government’s action to address it (the losses)? Absolutely nothing,” he added.

Quoting international financial reports on the colossal losses, he said the Barisan Nasional government could have carried out various programmes and projects with the money to benefit the people.

“But the government is not doing anything about it. Is the government pro-active in combating corruption?

“Definitely not,” Anwar, the PKR supremo, told a sizeable crowd during a forum on development themed “Interaksi Komuniti (Community Interaction) here here today.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman, state executive councillor and Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, and Penang State Legislative Assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain, who is PKR state secretary chief and Balik Pulau division chief.

Others were Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff , Senator Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff and Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin.

As a constructive opposition coalition, Anwar said Pakatan Rakyat would prepare its own alternative people-oriented budget early next week to address the issue and deal with budget deficit.

Pakatan is expected to table its budget to the press after Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Finance Minister, had tabled the national 2012 Budget at Parliament next Friday.

Anwar indicated that Pakatan’s budget would propose drastic measures to cut down on the colossal monetary wastage currently suffered by the country and the escalating budget for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“The PMO budget has increased many times over the past four years. Pakatan’s budget will propose strong measures to reduce it,” he said.

He expects Najib to pick up some of Pakatan ideas to beef up his own government budget.

“I would not be surprised given that Najib always imitates my political style,” said Anwar, who is the Permatang Pauh MP, while citing a few examples.

He said Pakatan’s alternative budget would emphasise on human development, environment, welfare and reduction of taxes and prices of goods.

He said the budget would also look into how to improve the ordinary people’s socio-economic well- being.

“It will be different from the BN’s budget,” he said.