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Posted: 28 Sep 2012 12:11 AM PDT

Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today renewed his debate challenge on Datuk Seri Najib Razak, this time suggesting to take on the country's number one by pitting Barisan Nasional's (BN) Budget 2013 to Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) alternative.

The opposition leader pointed out to how Najib had laced his Budget speech this evening with direct insults against PR and told the prime minister that if he was prepared to attack the opposition, he should do so in a debate.

"Debate me. If you are prepared to attack the opposition and the opposition leader, why can you not engage in a debate?

Confine it to economic policies... or the Budget. I am now reiterating my earlier proposal that we debate ― that I debate Najib on the national Budget... PR versus BN's Budget," he told reporters after Najib tabled the government's Budget 2013 in Parliament this evening.

Anwar had earlier described BN's Budget handouts as mere "titbits" fed to the poor and middle income earners, pointing out that the move would do nothing to narrow the country's income gap.

The prime minister hopeful said the fresh round of cash handouts in Budget 2013 to middle- and lower-income Malaysians was proof that the government was merely concerned with its chances at the ballot boxes in the coming months.

"The announcements of handouts to general Malaysians is just a small dosage for the elections... but the basic structural problem of the country, where the rich cronies and their family members amass millions of dollars of profits through improper means ― that is left intact," Anwar said.

In his Budget 2013 speech, Najib took an indirect swipe at Anwar when he pointed out that among the leaders of the federal opposition were "those who were trusted as leaders to manage the nation's wealth."

Anwar was finance minister under the Mahathir administration.

"We recognise that the BN government is not without fault, but what differentiates us from the other is that they do not have the courage to accept mistakes. On the other hand, they make excuses and find fault in others.

"Ultimately, parties that offer an alternative must be evaluated on their merit," Najib had said in his speech.

"The rakyat know them well. Among them, there are those who were trusted as leaders to manage the nation's wealth.

"If today they make promises, the rakyat must ask why is this leadership, while in power, did not take any action.

"When they had the opportunity; and did not implement what they promises, what guarantee is there that they will fulfil promises when they are in power?" he asked.

Najib pointed out that it was during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s when the country was "almost destroyed".

Nazri: Ok to get foreign funds, but don't attack govt

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:17 PM PDT

(The Sun Daily) - It is all right for groups and non-governmental organisations to receive foreign funding but they should not be used by outsiders as mercenaries to attack the government.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said groups that act like mercenaries are questionable as it is unknown if their criticisms against the government are genuine.

"They are just like mercenaries because they receive money but their criticisms may not be genuine.

"It may be only an act of gratification for receiving funding from certain groups overseas," Nazri told theSun today.

He was referring to civil liberties group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), which was investigated over foreign funding.

The probe caused a public outcry, with several quarters calling it harassment and intimidation by the government.

Some quarters also argued there was nothing unusual about NGOs receiving foreign funds, adding that even the government receives international funding.

Nazri scoffed at the comments, describing the rebuttals as "very poor".

He said some NGOs such as the Malaysian AIDS Council, which has admitted receiving support from international agencies for its programmes, are fine "as it is for a good cause".

"The funding is not an issue, the issue is that you receive money from overseas and act like a mercenary to attack the government; you are being used by outsiders," he said.

On Sept 18, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced a probe on Suaram and its affiliate, Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd.

He said the Registrar of Societies would take action against Suaram and Suara Inisiatif under the Societies Act 1966, while Bank Negara Malaysia would probe Suaram under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 for anomalies related to its accounts.

On Tuesday, Ismail told reporters the Companies Commission of Malaysia has submitted a report on Suaram and Suara Inisiatif to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further investigation.

He declined to reveal the details requested by the AG.

Budget aims to spur growth, win votes

Posted: 27 Sep 2012 01:56 PM PDT

The prime minister is expected to expand stimulus measures in his last budge before the 13th general election.

(AFP) - Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is expected to unveil a fresh round of handouts today in a voter-friendly budget aimed at shoring up support ahead of what is predicted to be a tough election.

Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition, which has ruled the country for 55 years, must face a national ballot by June.

He has previously raised civil servants' pay, handed cash to low-income households and announced rail and road projects to fuel growth, and analysts predict a repeat of such moves and other incentives to cushion rising prices.

Najib is also expected to expand stimulus measures to support the economy in his last budget before polls, where he will face a tough test against Anwar Ibrahim, who leads the three-party opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

Ibrahim Suffian, director of Merdeka Center, Malaysia's top polling organisation, told AFP that the issue of reducing public debt was not Najib's immediate concern.

"It will be an election budget since the survival of his government is paramount as compared to tackling the budget deficit and public debt," he said.

Ibrahim said Najib was again expected to offer cash handouts to the poor and pensioners, bonuses for civil servants and tax adjustments for the middle class.

"With the goodies, the government hopes it will be more attractive to the electorate," he said.

Malaysia's budget deficit stood at 4.7% in the first half of the year, while its public debt was 53% of gross domestic product in 2011.

Rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch recently warned of rising fiscal pressures in Malaysia that could lead to a downgrade.

But the government has said it is on target to reduce the deficit to 3.0% by 2015.

Yeah Kim Leng, chief economist with RAM Holdings, said handouts would be welcomed.

"As long as there is no deterioration in the deficit and debt levels, it would be welcomed given that the weak global economy requires most governments to prop up their domestic economy," he said.

The prime minister will announce the budget to Parliament at 4pm.

A once-insignificant opposition scored unprecedented gains in 2008 general election that saw the long-ruling coalition, which Najib took over in 2009, lose its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority.

About 70% of the country's 29 million population are low- and middle-income earners and have been hard hit by rising prices, especially for food and transport.

Bank Negara has previously forecast full-year growth between 4% and 5% this year, slower than the 5.1% seen in 2011.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Jumaat, 28 September 2012

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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