Spend prudently, MCA tells Putrajaya

Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek speaks at the 60th MCA Annual General Assembly at the party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today. – The Malaysian Insider by Afif Abd Halim, December 20, 2013.Putrajaya needs to be more prudent, said MCA, in light of heightened criticisms over its spending, and when Malaysians were forced to be frugal due to subsidy cuts and impending hikes.  

"There should not be an ostentatious display of the government splurging as if there were unlimited funds," outgoing MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said in his speech ahead of MCA's elections today.

Dr Chua said that the increased rate in expenditure unfortunately exceeded revenue increase, and this was not sustainable as it would eat into the development expenditure.

The government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had recently come under fire over its excessive spending:

It was reported that the prime minister's official residence, Seri Perdana Complex, chalked up RM2.2 million in electricity bills and RM311,174.25 for water last year.

Taxpayers forked out nearly RM20 million for the maintenance and modification of its VVIP jet, while another RM44.02 million was for Najib's overseas trips since 2008.

The government also spent more than RM 7.2 billion on private consulting firms from 2009 to 2013. This amounted to an average of RM4 million daily or RM125 million monthly.

The Home Ministry’s suspension of newsweekly The Heat two days ago was believed to be over an article that focused on Najib's "spendthrift ways".

The spending had not gone down well with the public who faced a series of hikes since the 13th general election.

These include reduced fuel subsidies in September, the removal of sugar subsidy under Budget 2014, and the recently announced electricity tariff hike which will take effect next month.

The new year will also see an increase in toll rates for highways in the Klang Valley, public transport fares and property assessment rates in Kuala Lumpur.

However, Putrajaya has defended its tough, if not unpopular, decision to cut subsidies and hike rates, saying it was trying to protect the economy and keep investors' confidence.