BN: ‘Alternative’ budget unrealistic

PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional has described Pakatan Harapan’s alternative Budget 2018 as “irresponsible, unrealistic and unsustainable”.

“This is because aside from promising to eliminate the GST, abolish toll and provide free education, the Opposition does not have concrete plans to create more jobs and strengthen the economy,” said Barisan strategic communications director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

He said Pakatan’s “unwise” spending could be seen in the way they managed Penang and Selangor.

“They told us they would spend wisely and cut taxes. What they never told Malaysians is that the operating expenditures (Opex) in Penang and Selangor have increased manifold since they took over the states in 2008,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Abdul Rahman, who is the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department overseeing the Economic Planning Unit, said if both states had spent wisely, its operating expenditures would have decreased.

Pakatan’s alternative Budget 2018 was also criticised by MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong who said it held nothing new.

He said the alternative budget was a repeat of many of the policies already put in place by Barisan Nasional.

“Pakatan Harapan should study thoroughly and get its facts right before coming up with a so-called alternative budget,” he told reporters after launching the Malaysia International Guan Gong Cultural Festival 2017 yesterday.