Anwar: Najib is right

Anwar Ibrahim agrees with Najib Razak's statement that the government does not practice populist approaches; but only after winning elections.

PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim today agreed with Najib Tun Razak’s statement yesterday that the government under his leadership does not adopt the populist approach in the administration but always endeavoured to expand the national economy.

“Yes, I believe he is quite right that he is no longer populist now. After the election (GE13), the government is no longer populist,” the PKR supremo told a press conference here.

“But they were very populist before the election,” Anwar pointed out.

“All the perks and assurances given that there will be no price hike… that they will reduce prices of goods and give all the support possible to the people but this position has been altered immediately after the election,” he added.

During the congress of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) yesterday, Najib said the government must ensure that the national revenue continued to increase and grow before deciding to make ‘sweet promises’ to the people.

“I believe all of you are aware of this reality. That is why we administer the country in a prudent manner, our way is not the populist way.

“I can become a Prime Minister that stands on the populist platform, but this way, I will destroy the future of our beloved nation,” Najib reportedly said.

Najib said the government would always ensure that every disbursement of fund would be done wisely so that the management expenditure would not exceed the country’s revenue.

He said this was to prevent the government from having to take up loans to run the country, including to pay the salaries of civil servants, as it would not only affect the country’s economy, but would also be a recipe for major destruction.

Hence, Najib said the people, especially civil servants, should not fall too easily for promises made by certain quarters about the country’s debt or fuel price reduction, as these quarters could not even give proper explanation on where and how they would get the money to get it done.