Unlike the Opposition’s, Govt plans are realistic, says Najib

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS mazwin@thestar.com.my PUTRAJAYA: The Government will not make unrealistic promises that can bankrupt the nation. This, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, was in contrast to the Opposition’s style. Najib added that the Government’s agenda, some of which had been implemented, showed that it was responsible and kept to its word. “This is truly the opposite of the Opposition’s populist 100-day proposed reform plans. We have studied the proposal and found that it was not made based on reality because there is no mention at all of how and where is the financial source to fulfil all these pledges,” he said, adding that he found this puzzling. “We cannot be overly populist so much so that we put the country at stake. We cannot be so irresponsible that our future generation will suffer,” he told the staff of the Prime Minister’s Department at this year’s first monthly gathering. He warned that if the Opposition went ahead with its plan, Malaysia would become like Greece (which was facing a debt crisis) in two years. The Pakatan Rakyat had said recently that if it formed the next Federal Government, it would reform critical institutions like the police, Election Commission, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and reward teachers with an additional RM500 monthly remuneration – all within 100 days. The Prime Minister said 2011 was the year for the Government administration and civil service to gain momentum on the implementation of the Government’s agenda and policies, as promised to the people. Based on the early success of programmes that had commenced, Najib said the Govern-ment was on the right track, adding that it needed to double its efforts to ensure multiple and continued success. Najib said Malaysia had scored two major successes last year, thanks to the collective efforts between the administration and civil servants. One, he said, was in overcoming the negative effects of the global economic crisis.