Debate Penjana in Parliament, urges Anwar

Opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim today calls the government to resume Parliament sitting as soon as possible, saying that it would be the best way to debate its economic stimulus plans.

The PKR president also questioned the government's projection for the country's economy which the latter had claimed is expected to make a sharp turnaround later this year.

"The government has continued its efforts to handle the 'pandemic economy'. Now we are having a pandemic economy because of limitations and restrictions due to Covid-19. This had been named as Penjana (National Economic Recovery Plan).

"As we welcome the effort that is quite positive, what is the biggest weakness in this? The fact that we cannot debate it.

"This is the only country that can present hundreds of billion (spending) without any discussions and without any opportunity for MPs from both the government and opposition to express their views and ask for explanations," Anwar said in a Facebook Live session this afternoon.

He was commenting on Perikatan Nasional's economic stimulus packages, the latest being Penjana that was announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday.

Penjana is a budget of the size of RM35 billion, including RM9 billion dedicated to ensuring job security for hundreds of thousands of people.

However, the government had received criticisms as they pushed it through without tabling the budget in Parliament for approval.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the government's projection for Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth of a sharp increase should be realistic instead of being propaganda.

"It was projected that the GDP would have a V-shape growth, which means it would have a sharp increase. That is a projection.

"But if we look at Singapore, theirs is more realistic with -8 percent. (Economic) projection should be realistic instead of 'propaganda-istic'.

"I believe we should debate this projection, whether it is realistic or logical," he said.

During the session, Anwar also expressed his concern over the unemployment rate in the country. - Mkini