Budget debate no-show: Najib's all bark, no bite

YOURSAY 'This must be a world's first where the debate on a country's budget is being conducted in the absence of its finance minister and all senior ministers.'

Najib's absence queried as Budget debate begins 

Ksn: The absence of the finance minister and other cabinet ministers to hear the opposition's views of the Budget is a disgrace and holds Parliament, and consequently the voters who sent the MPs there, in contempt.

Even in Parliament, they dare not face the truth or the challenges of critical analysis of the Budget. Only uninformed backbenchers were there, those who cannot understand the numbers. This is irresponsibility at its worst.

The only way to correct the situation is to not to send them, these cowards, to the House again.

Ong: This must be a world's first where the debate on a country's annual national budget is being conducted in the absence of its finance minister and all senior ministers.

Democrat: What kind of prime minister is Najib Razak? No PM in the world fails to show up when the opposition leader debates the nation's budget. This is irresponsible and unacceptable.

Never mind if you hate the opposition leader or you think he is dumb and stupid, but it's still your duty to show up as PM. After all, we are a democracy.

Anon: I have prepared countless budgets for my corporation. It was my duty to present the budget and more importantly, to answer questions and rebuttals to my budget and then to adjust it accordingly.

What kind of cabinet and PM/CEO of Malaysia we have here? Henceforth, the ruling party has lost all my respect and my vote.

Ren Ai: The absence of the PM and entourage is deliberate, it seems. The impression one gets is that Najib and his cabinet have no respect for Anwar and neither do they care two hoots at what fair-minded Malaysians will say on their non-appearance when an important Budget is being debated.

Their breeding is bad, to say the least, and their retaliation childish and foolhardy.

Dingy: Najib is a coward. He is not fit to be PM. An incumbent should not be afraid to debate with the opposition leader. In an election, the opposition leader will be PM if the opposition wins. It's not right to say Anwar is not equal to Najib as PM.

Speechless: BN ministers are scared to even debate their own Budget in Parliament. This is truly pathetic.

Apa Ini?: Najib is not even present to answer questions on his Budget. Now why is that not surprising?

Perhaps in his little head, he doesn't think he's accountable as he wasn't actually elected to his post. And if he doesn't show up, why should his senior team members bother to do so, right? Talk about leadership.

Teh Kee-Keat: Najib said Pakatan Rakyat's Buku Jingga is not worth the paper it was printed on. I say Najib's Budget 2013 is not worth his own presence for a parliamentary debate.

Anonymous #19098644: The lack of confidence of Najib and his cabinet is apparent by their absence. It also shows a lack of respect for parliamentary traditions and practice, and contempt for the rakyat who elected them to Parliament to represent them.

Yeoke: It is highly irresponsible of the government to not take the Budget debate seriously. Please don't forget that the opposition also represent citizens of this country.

Najib's administration must accept the fact that the opposition represents the voice and interest of almost 50 percent of the voters who voted for them in the last GE.

I really do not have any respect for this government as they do things as they wish. There does not seem to be any accountability in their actions.

Confused: With this attitude, it only reflects that the current administration does not care for the welfare of the country. They must learn how to accept constructive criticism and feedback. It is important to hear the views of others.

Tailek: This just goes to show that the government's budget is not really a serious budget. Even if Najib has no guts to defend his budget, at the very least the deputy finance minister should be present in Parliament to debate it.

The whole cabinet is made up of a bunch of incompetent nincompoops, period. Regime change at the ballot box is the only answer to save our country.

Starr: This is the diabolical state of our parliamentary system of government. Where's the accountability of the executive branch of the government? If they are not accountable to the legislature, who are they accountable to?

Najib must realise that transforming the economy is tougher than crafting his lofty rhetoric. Dishing out goodies here and there to gain popularity ahead of the election will not solve our economic woes.

Gerard Lourdesamy: The rich in Malaysia hold more than 50 percent of the national wealth not because of their hard work or brilliance but because of crony capitalism, leakages and corruption.

If capitalism is the cure to all social problems then Najib should do away with all privileges based on race; open up the economy to genuine competition; and abolish all subsidies.

At least the Pakatan Rakyat budget seeks to create a more equitable system of wealth distribution while making the economy more transparent, competitive and resilient, as well as providing a safety net for the lower-income group and middle class.

The BN budget offers a one-off scheme of crumbs to the ordinary rakyat, but at the same time preserving the interests of crony capitalists who serve the interests of the ruling elites.

Frankly, it's disgusting to see the rich, profligate and extravagant elites pontificating about fairness, justice and equality to the rest of us while they pillage and rob the country of its wealth and resources for short-term gain.

YF: Where are all the MCA leaders? They complained when Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim was absent from their Talam debate, why is there no complaint now when your boss Najib as well as top Umno leaders are absent? Cakap tak serupa bikin.

Anonymous #48810686: Seriously, the credibility of our PM is highly questionable. After such a spirited speech at the Gerakan convention yesterday, he chickened out when it mattered the most. He is all bark but no bite.

Absalom: Why are people so hard on the PM? Perhaps he has something more important to do, like a golf game or shopping with his wife. After all, it's only the national budget.

Changeagent: Najib sure looks like a guerilla warfare finance minister - take a few cheap shots at the opposition's alternative budget, and then go into hiding from having to justify his allegations.

He is good at talking up his own policies to the BN-friendly media only, but not so good at direct confrontation or having intellectual debate with the opposition.

Aquinas Says: If you want to find our PM, he is on Page 2 of The Star practically everyday taking a swipe at Pakatan, where he can say whatever he wants and get away with it. - Malaysiakini