Don’t blindly follow opposition views, Rafizi tells party mate

 

PKR colleagues Rafizi Ramli and Hassan Karim have locked horns over the increase in Bank Negara’s overnight policy rate.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim of PKR has been told by a party leader not to “blindly” follow the opposition’s attacks on the government over a recent interest rate increase.

Economy minister Rafizi Ramli, who is PKR deputy president said he had explained the issue to Hassan at a recent meeting.

He said he had even advised the party veteran to contact him or prime minister and party leader Anwar Ibrahim directly if he remained unsure.

“I thought that he would not make any statements after we provided an explanation to him, but he still did so,” he said at a constituency open house in Pandan.

“I told him not to blindly follow the narrative that is sometimes played by the opposition.”

Hassan had earlier demanded that Rafizi and Anwar explain why the OPR was raised again to 3%, a move which raised concerns that Malaysians would have to pay more to service their loans.

The central bank has increased the OPR (the inter-bank lending rate) five times since May last year, after it had been maintained at an all-time low of 1.75% since July 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For the time being, the public appears to be pleased with the unity government’s economic management,” Rafizi said when asked whether the interest rate bump would have an impact on the legislative elections in six states some time after June.

Rafizi denied that Hassan would face repercussions for criticising the government. - FMT