Budget not aimed to fish for votes, says PM

The tabling of the 2013 Budget is not to fish for votes, but a commitment by the government to bring prosperity to the country, said Najib Razak today.

Thus, the prime minister said the government should not be accused of being populist because it had succeeded in achieving numerous successes and fulfilling its promises to the people.

He said the government had implemented policies and spent on projects to encourage economic growth to the extent that it was capable of recording a remarkable economic growth when the world was facing economic crisis.

He cited the listing of Felda Global Ventures Holding (FGVH), which recorded the second highest initial public offer (IPO) after Facebook, as one of the major succeses.

"This is our pride, so we cannot be accused as being a populist government.

"A populist government is one that is irresponsible, which promises things which are impossible to implement," he said in his speech at the Paroi Youth and Sports Stadium in Seremban today.

About 12,000 people from all over the state attended the gathering which was also attended by the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor and Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan.


BR1M 2.0 is to hit back at Bersih 2.0

Najib said thus the opposition felt challenged when the government chose the slogan "Janji Ditepati" ("Promises Fulfilled") because they knew that the promises they had made could not be fulfilled.

"When we chose the theme 'Janji Ditepati', they became angry because they knew their promises could not be fulfilled... the BN did not promise things that were not achievable, we are realistic," he said to loud applause from the people.

Najib said the choice of the name 'Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia' (BR1M 2.0) announced in the 2013 Budget was also one way of hitting at the opposition for organising Bersih 2.0.

"We call it BR1M 2.0 actually to hit at the opposition for organising  Bersih 2.0 which was totally not clean... but we give BR1M for the people's prosperity.

"If our country enjoys prosperity, the government will share this prosperity with the rakyat... so the people must have confidence on what the government has done and will do (for the people)," he said.

Selangor ticked off

At the function, Najib also launched the 1Malaysia Public Housing (PR1MA) Seremban to be built at four strategic locations involving the construction of about 5,000 units of houses within a two-year period.

Taking a swipe at the Selangor government that had yet to resolve the water issue in the state, Najib said the willingness of the state government to cooperate with the federal government had enabled joint ventures to be carried out to implement housing projects according to the needs of the people.

"Unlike in Selangor where even the water issue could not be settled, in this state we give close cooperation," he said, adding that the houses under PR1MA would be sold to those eligible at a price that would be 20 percent cheaper than the market price.

In addition, Najib also announced an allocation of RM158 million for the 'Dana Mudah Cara' for the construction of the Lekas-Temiang highway which would benefit about 10,000 people living in the surrounding areas.



Source- Bernama