Supplementary Bill: Umno leaders say high time gov’t quit BN 'blame game'

PARLIAMENT | It is high time the Pakatan Harapan government stop using the alleged wrongdoings and failures of the previous BN-led government to justify its own spending choices and supposed lack of finances, former BN ministers said today.

Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) said this in the Dewan Rakyat when taking Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to task after the latter tabled the Supplementary Supply Bill (2018) 2019 for its second reading today.

During the tabling, Lim had asked the government to approve an additional budget of RM19.6 billion, needed in part to offset financial commitments made by the previous government and “off-balance sheet debt service payment.”

Lim had said the Harapan government had repaid loans undertaken by 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd through off-balance sheet methods.

Khairy, BN's shadow finance minister, accused the government of constantly using the excuse of inadequate finances to explain why it could not honour its election pledges.

The inadequate finances, he added, were typically attributed by the Harapan administration to the RM1 trillion national debt and liabilities purportedly left behind by the previous government and the 1MDB scandal.

“However, when it comes to a by-election, (the Harapan government) can find the money. RM100 (cash aid) was announced for the unmarried in light of the Semenyih polls," he said.

“Say there is no money... but you can find RM20 million for the third national car project which has borne the brunt of jokes around the world. What is Harapan’s economic strategy?

"This is the narrative we hear from the finance minister, from the Harapan government from day one, (that) the national debt is RM1 trillion because of 1MDB; because of the RM1 trillion debt, there is no money, it is all (because of) 1MDB.”

Urging the finance minister to provide a more “clear and honest” context in his narrative, Khairy countered that many of what Putrajaya deemed committed government guarantees had been used to pay for public investments, such as the MRT and LRT projects.

“The projects are not scandals. These are all public goods. If (payment was) not made in this way, with conventional financing, when would we have the Pan Borneo (Highway project)?”

Ceasing the 'blame game'

Speaking to reporters on Lim’s winding-up speech on the supplementary budget later, former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also called on Putrajaya to cease the “blame game”.

“The blame game should not happen. Do your best. In fact, do better…if you say the old government purportedly committed many wrongs and faults, then do better.

“Don’t blame the burdens faced (by the Harapan government) for nearly one year on the old government,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP, said the people were waiting for change and reforms, and not for the government to pin the blame for all faults on the past regime. - Mkini