Government not a magician, Guan Eng says on restoring economy

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng at a ceramah in Sandakan last night.(Bernama pic)

SANDAKAN: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says the government needs time to restore the country’s economy, adding that it is not a “magician” who can do so in only a short period of time.

“The decades-long debts under the previous government cannot be resolved in a year. We are not magicians, there has to be planning to resolve and restore the country’s economy,” he said during a DAP ceramah for the Sandakan by-election here last night.

Also present were DAP’s candidate for the by-election, Vivian Wong, and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Guan Eng, who is DAP secretary-general, said the country had been robbed by the previous government, with debts totalling RM150 billion, including the 1MDB debt.

“Due to the scandal and personal interests of the previous government’s leaders, the country is now sick. We are working to reduce the debts. Give us time, at least three years, to restore the country’s economy and bring it on the right path,” he added.

He said however that the debts would not hamper the government from continuing to carry out development projects for the people.

He also hit out at Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), saying it had resorted to character assassination in its campaign.

“Therefore, we need to reject the opposition party (PBS) which is a remnant of the previous government that failed to fight corruption in Sabah and in the peninsula,” he added. - FMT