[PRESS STATEMENT] On The Economy (TPPA, GST and Budget Deficit) And Crime

PRESS RELEASE

19 JUNE 2013

I cautiously take note of the announcement by Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak of the formation of a committee that will focus on reducing the national budgetary deficit to 3% by 2015. An economic undertaking of that feat could have easily been achieved through strict economic governance and transparent government procurement without the need for any new taxes or cutting of essential government expenditures with direct impact on the people’s livelihood.

Unfortunately, Dato’ Seri Najib continues to govern behind a veil of secrecy. There is a growing concern over his cabinet’s conduct on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations precisely because of his administration’s refusal to be transparent and inclusive during the negotiations. In fact, much of the financial burden that adds up to the ballooning national budgetary deficit also originates from his unsound vote-buying schemes that cost the public billions of ringgit in the last general election.

The BN government must not drag the public to cover for its economic incompetence and policy shortfalls. Any attempts to introduce a new Goods and Services Tax (GST) albeit in stages to reduce the budgetary deficit will be resisted much in the same force that the people had resisted electoral fraud. I maintain that GST can only be introduced if the average level of income of common Malaysians have risen significantly over a period of 5 years, in comparison to the low 2.6% average wage growth achieved in between 2000 and 2010.

Dato’ Seri Najib’s does not have the full legitimacy in terms of popular votes, and he has not been able to deliver the most basic of his economic promises since being sworn in recently. The fact that his administration struggles to reduce car prices as promised in his manifesto exemplified the incompetence and hopelessness of his administration.

Dato’ Seri Najib has also failed to deliver on his promise to provide affordable and livable housing for the people. We shall track the BN government’s performance on public housing closely and will consider it a failure if he cannot bring down the average prices of mid-range housing by at least 10% in the next one year.

Crime

The public is alarmingly concerned with the escalating crime rate especially violent crimes. It is not in our place as public officials to blame the concern on misperception as safety and fear are all a question of perception. Clearly, there is a serious credibility issue engulfing our police force that continuously dilutes the public’s confidence in its ability to provide safety.

Pakatan Rakyat can contribute constructively to allay the public concern. I offer Pakatan Rakyat’s full assistance to the police force to work together in engaging the public to bridge the growing gap between credibility and perception with the real and honest work that the police has been putting. I will table to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership that a committee made up of Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional representatives is formed immediately to work with the IGP and his officers to address the concerns over safety.

Finally I urge Dato’ Seri Najib to meet the 3 demands put forth by the people’s movement and allow for the peaceful gathering in Padang Merbok on 22 June to proceed smoothly.

ANWAR IBRAHIM