Anwar dares Najib to debate on budget

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim dared Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to an open debate on their respective budgets in response to the latter’s accusation that Pakatan Rakyat’s alternative financial plan was “right-wing”.

Anwar, the former deputy prime minister, said that Najib, as finance minister, is more than capable of debating on the matter.

He said that an open debate was the best way for voters to decide whose budget is better rather than taking potshots via government-owned media.

Najib, in his speech to Gerakan members attending their party’s annual general assembly yesterday, had labelled Pakatan’s 2012 alternative budget as a “right-wing Republican budget that failed to address the needs of the people”.

“He shouldn’t be criticising our budget only through their (government) media… he should be able to defend our criticism of his budget as he is the finance minister.

“He is more than capable of presenting his case (in the open debate),” Anwar, who was also the former finance minister, told a press conference at the Parliament lobby here.

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