Political suicide if the government cannot fulfil, says Najib
RAWANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday the government has the capability and funds to implement the proposals in Budget 2012.
“I would not have had the courage to table the budget yesterday (Friday) if we do not have the funds. I would be committing political suicide if I were to table a budget which the government cannot fulfil,” he told reporters.
Najib was asked whether the government had the funds to implement the proposals contained in Budget 2012 which allocated RM232.8 billion to implement all government development plans.
He had earlier met the local people at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Kundang and visited the site of the proposed shorter road linking Kampung Baru Kundang and Bandar Tasik Puteri Rawang here.
Asked about the opposition pact’s RM220-billion shadow budget, Najib said the question should be posed to the opposition why their shadow budget had allocated almost a similar amount.
Replying to a question, Najib said he was made to understand that opposition MPs were keen for a review of the allowances of MPs but added that he was surprised that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had responded otherwise.
Asked about the reaction of the MTUC that the budget had less good news for private sector employees compared to civil servants, the prime minister said the benefits for private sector workers was dependent on their negotiations with their respective employers. Najib said duty on cigarettes was not raised in Budget 2012 because the use of contraband cigarettes was already 40 per cent and any further duty would only push up that percentage.
However, he added, the government could consider raising the tax on cigarettes at any time when the situation warrants it.
Asked about the update on the Selangor BN machinery following a convention two weeks ago, Najib said the BN machinery was motivated and making preparations for the next general election but added that it had to work harder to garner the people’s support. — Bernama