KUALA LUMPUR - Putrajaya should trim the alleged “slush funds” falling within prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s purview amounting to RM7 billion instead of cutting down on social spending in its revision of Budget 2015, DAP’s Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong said today.
Putrajaya should also appoint a new finance minister — a post currently also held by the prime minister — to enable full dedication to the management of the country’s funds, Liew said.
Ahead of Najib’s expected announcement of the revised budget next Tuesday, Liew noted that the sharp government revenue cuts due to falling global oil prices made it necessary to slash expenditure.
“But what needs to be cut is the question. To begin with, there shall be no cuts to education, health, welfare and other social expenditures.
“What must first be cut is what I call the ‘Prime Ministerial slush funds” hidden mainly not only in the Prime Minister’s Department, but also in the Finance Ministry,” the DAP national political education director said in a statement today.
MP Liew Chin Tong
Liew listed seven projects under the development funds earmarked for the Prime Minister’s Department as examples of “outrageous” items, namely Poverty Project for Semenanjung/Sabah/Sarawak (RM160 million), Development Programme (RM1.1 billion), Mesra Rakyat Project (RM670 million), Facilitation Fund (RM2.5 billion), Small Projects (RM300 million) and Special Projects (RM1.6 billion).
“Those listed are particularly outrageous because it is so vaguely worded with scant information for any scrutiny. And, it is under Najib’s total control as he can literally give it away by a stroke of pen,” Liew said.
He pointed out that taxpayers will be footing a bill totalling RM7.08 billion for these seven items alone, with this price tag exceeding the annual cash aid to low-income Malaysians through Putrajaya’s Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) programme.
Liew also said that those working in the corporate world and involved in the financial markets would find that a revised budget is no longer enough.
“We need a new full-time finance minister with deep knowledge of the economy and sufficient powers to make informed and enlightened decision,” he said.
Last year, Najib tabled Budget 2015 with an expected expenditure of RM273.9 billion, against an expected revenue of RM223.4 billion.
The revised government budget is set to take into account a weakening ringgit — which had fallen to historic lows recently — and the decline of oil prices by almost 60 per cent from last year to US$50 (RM180) per barrel.
Oil prices are predicted to fall to as low as US$40 (RM140) in the first half of this year, further eating into the profits of national oil giant Petronas — which is a key contributor to the government’s revenue. - Malay Mail
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.