Something has been missing prior to the debate of the 2012 Budget in parliament yesterday, as pointed out by Opposition Leader who is also the former Finance minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
“Unfortunately, we are debating the budget today, but the Auditor-General’s report has not been presented,” Anwar told Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He questioned whether the delay was deliberate to prevent members of parliament from discussing the Auditor-General’s contents.
In his response to the budget tabled by prime minister Najib Razak last Friday, Anwar accused Najib of repackaging past failed programmes and unfulfilled promises under new names requiring large amounts of money.
The Permatang Pauh MP also lashed out at Najib’s growth projection of 5 to 6 percent for 2012, saying that the number was way too high based on various analysis and research.
Anwar also said the 4.7 percent deficit prediction was without basis, saying such a projection must be based on economic growth in 2011 and the projected growth total national income for 2012, and added a country making unrealistic growth and revenue projection would suffer the repercussion.
“First, it will worsen the country’s deficit. Secondly it will also sideline the critical need to adhere to physical discipline and prudent spending of public funds,” said Anwar, who also echoes an earlier statement by PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man that BN would table a supplementary budget bill by mid of 2012.
As such, Anwar said if the forecast GDP could not be achieved, Parliament should convene a special sitting to take Najib to task.
- Harakahdaily
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