'PM focused on economic recovery, addressing youth issues'

 

Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing has come to the defence of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim against allegations that the latter prioritises garnering youth support for the upcoming state elections over addressing the nation's challenges.

Tan (above, right) was referring to a jibe made by Besut MP Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh who likened Anwar’s engagement session with university students to political campaigns.

“Zulkifly's accusations seem to portray the prime minister as (someone who is) not developing the national economy.

“But in reality, Anwar has introduced three main pillars to enhance the capital market for economic growth, encourage savings and investment inflows before Besut MP issued his statement,” Tan said in a statement today.

He cited Anwar’s speech during the launch of the Capital Market Graduate Programme at the Securities Commission headquarters on June 19, in which the latter introduced the three main pillars aimed at driving economic growth.

The pillars encompass measures to expand affordable investments, attract investor groups for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) financing and restructure the capital market for economic transformation.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Tan also pointed out that at the same time, the prime minister even urged employers to consider paying fair allowances to interns.

"So, is Zulkifly reading the news, or is he selectively reading it?" Tan asked.

Playing the victim card’

On that note, Tan mentioned that if Anwar did not regularly meet with university students, Zulkifly would blame the government for paying little attention to youths.

He claimed that the opposition often incited “hatred or anger among the people so that Perikatan Nasional can win in the state elections”.

On the issue of the allocations for the opposition lawmakers, Tan believed that PN was “playing the victim card” to portray the government as tyrannical.

“This issue has been repeatedly raised and discussed in the Dewan Rakyat, and the government's position is clear, that the opposition needs to negotiate with the government.

"But PN continues to reject such proposals so that they can continue to ‘play the victim card’ outside the chamber to evoke sympathy among their supporters,” he stated.

Furthermore, Tan accused Zulkifly of failing to fulfil his responsibilities as an MP, both within and outside the Dewan Rakyat.

"He was previously expelled from the Dewan Rakyat for not complying with the deputy speaker's orders, and now he is trying to provoke emotions and anger among the people," Tan said. - Mkini